It had been a long few months, the event that destroyed the mansion (the mystics not the ice) had long passed and the mansionites were in the process of rebuilding. The sound of construction of the residential wings continued. Different contracting trucks sat parked outside as crews of every trade started going to work.

One room however was blocked off, at the request of Sam and the other X-men. It was long overdue but while the mansion was rebuilding so too should the team. With Becca insisting that she was no longer an X-man the icemancer wasn’t sure if she would attend but he sent the invite out to her anyways.

The text read, “Hey, team breakfast. I want to welcome some new members to the roster and discuss where the team goes from here. Hope everyone will bring some breakfast foods. I already started cooking the bacon. See you soon. -Sam.”

While the trainees and members who were about to achieve ‘active’ status on the roster received, “Hey, mandatory team breakfast bring your favorite breakfast food and enough to share. Already started cooking bacon. See you soon. -Sam”

With the texts sent out Sam went back to cooking the bacon. All of it.

Jorge was in full support of this plan. The trainees had done a lot during what had to be the most terrifying moments of their lives. And while the mansion had been destroyed, in the end, they were successful and it was all thanks to everyone involved. Therefore…it was time. It was time to let some bring trainees into the light and become full-fledged members. However, considering that most of the mansion was still under construction, this fanfare would have to be a little more easy going.

The detective arrived early, already finding Sam cooking up bacon. In his arms Jorge carried a grocery bag of supplies, as well as a couple boxes of doughnuts and boxes of coffee (and hot chocolate). Setting the premade stuff on the counter, Jorge turned and unloaded some eggs and tortillas on the counter, as well as oil, salt, pepper, and some other spices and ingredients. He then turned and nodded to Sam.

”Sam,” he greeted with a smile.”Care to scooch over and open a burner for me?” He asked, procuring a skillet from a cabinet. ”Going to make some Migas and homemade salsa.” A glance at the remains in the bag will reveal tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, and more ingredients. ”Changing some lives today, least they deserve is some homecooked food, right?”

For a shining moment, Shin contemplated making everyone a good old traditional Japanese breakfast: Steamed rice, miso soup, a rolled omelet, maybe a little grilled fish… yeah. He didn’t do that.

Shin made everyone just about the fluffiest damn pancakes in the world. They were impossibly fluffy. The main differences between his and other pancakes were, his lacked butter in the batter, making them richer and more moist, and they had more baking powder to add to the soufflé-like texture. He made enough for a small army, and brought multiple bottles of syrups. Maple, blueberry, strawberry preserves…. Store bought, yes. But he was still the definition of extra.

He arrived right after Jorge, Porygon pack animal-in tow. It had all the things he needed in a reshaped “truck bed.” He set up a long card table with several metal trays, those camping things (Sterno 2-hour heat). He put the third metal tray on the table. Then, he looked at them both.

”I brought some trays to keep the food hot. We don’t want anyone getting food poisoning.” He explained.

Then, he set up a second table with more trays and arranged his massive pancake supply next to all the fixings on a THIRD table. Where did he get all these tables?

”I… may have raided a camping store on the way here. Sam, you owe me so much bacon. And— hmm. Your food smells amazing too, Jorge.” He smiled at it all.

”I made pancakes.”

Once Porygon was finished being a pack animal, Shin took a second and repurposed the polygonal duck into a pink and purple table. Right next to the others. His power sure was practical when he did the math.

Praxi was excited to be back in the Mansion, even if the building was still under construction. There were large portions of the school that still needed to be rebuilt from scratch, but there was now at least one dining room up and running. That meant team breakfast, evidently!

For all her interest in food, Praxi was not exactly a cook. Managing your way through a kitchen involved dexterity and precise handwork. That was harder when you lacked hands. Lucky for her, she was not alone in the kitchen these days. Living with Amethyst, Praxi had access to Carrick , who had a very handy set of... well, hands. She did her part, but most of her part involved reading instructions so he could be her avatar in the kitchen.

With his help, Praxi was able to bring a well-sealed container filled with pastechi; deliciously crusty breakfast pastries filled with meat or fish. Apparently they were also a kind of empanada? She loved how so many cultures had their own versions of a thing.

They were popular when the Atlantean kids could get their hands on the basics, both because they were tasty and traveled well. Of course, she had to sample the first batch to make sure Carrick got them right, so she was wearing one of her favorite sundresses to hide the pastry crumbs and bits of beef being dissolved in her body.

Because he helped make them, and because Praxi had ulterior motives, she had texted Sam back to ask if she could drag Carrick with her. He made a dish of his own, despite Praxi pointing out that he could already take credit for most of her dish. "You just wanted an excuse to feed Sam his own steak," she scolded as they entered the dining room to find some of the more senior members of the team setting up. "Hello! I brought empanadas, and also a smug birdcat boy."

Carrick liked cooking, it reminded him when he was younger and when he used to do it with his mother that was years ago though and since then he had learned to fend for himself. Either by stealing the ingredients or buying as little as possible.

So when Praxi mentioned a free meal all he had to do was cook he was all to willing to take orders as she read the recipe. When he found out who else he was making the food for he decided to make something else, just for a laugh.

Sam’s expensive steaks in the form of breakfast burritos. Not just any breakfast burrito, Jorge’s breakfast burritos. It wasn’t exact but it reminded the shifter of all the free meals he used to get when he raided the watermancers fridge.

”Allegedly,” Carrick corrected as he walked into the room behind Praxi. ”Allegedly they were his. If he wanted them he wouldn’t have left them in the school before it was destroyed.” the shifter wanted to see the look on his face when he figured it out.

”man! Birdcat Man!” he said in a mocking tone sticking his tongue out when Praxi wasn’t looking.

”And I brought my appetite!” the shifter shouted as he placed a bunch of tinfoil wrapped steak breakfast burritos on a table already biting into one. His tail flicked behind him as he leaned over everyone's shoulder as they prepped their meals. ”Great idea frosty! Love me a free meal!”

Elizabeth showed up precisely on time, which for her was still early compared to most peoples' watches, but not freakishly early. Those with keen hearing heard the shift in the choruses of birdsong as Liz had approached the mansion and started making her way through the halls. As heartbreaking as the mansion's destruction had been, Liz was still so happy that it was being rebuilt. It was a sign of a new time and she was so filled with hope that she didn't mind letting it bubble out of her and into the local fauna.

Another sign of a new time was the fact she was there. She had been expecting a call, although a brunch text was not quite how she imagined it would happen. In the wake of the assault on the mansion, Elizabeth had finally accepted Sam's offer to join the X-Men. It had been a long conversation, and she'd had several reservations, but he fended every single one.

Besides, it was breakfast food. Literally one of her most favorite things in the world. It was the sneakiest way to get Liz to say yes and she wasn't sure if she was miffed or thrilled that it had worked.

It had still resulted in a long text chain because Liz had noted that Sam hadn't mentioned when or where it was supposed to be. But it had all worked out in the end.

A couple of flies led her to the kitchen and dining and then she dismissed them from the building. There was already a lot of activity around the kitchen and dining room, and from the smells in the air, several people were still cooking.

She found a table where people were already setting out food. "Good morning, Praxi!" she said sunnily. "Carrick. Morning as well." She sat her two boxes down and unstacked them. One was filled with muffins of the banana nut, blueberry, and chocolate chip varieties. The other contained gooey, thick, massive cinnamon rolls drowning in icing. Everything was hot and fresh from the ovens at the rented house she'd been staying at, keeping charge over several of the students who had not been able to return to their family homes during the rebuilding phase. She'd left Nico and Zorro behind as well.

"How are the two of you? And how's Amethyst?" she asked.

The dining room and the kitchen were filled with the smell of wonderful breakfast food, and the sounds of chatter. Like a family breakfast. Gawain wished he could enjoy it like he used to, to greet the trainees joining the ranks of the X-men, defending people and standing for everything he believed in.

Except, Gawain was not sure he believed in all those things anymore.

Still, he tried to put on a good face. Today was not about him, or the two-months-long quest to catch the guy who'd locked Iris' powers away. Today was about Luna and Skye and Praxi. And the X-family. When Gawain showed up in the kitchen soon after Liz, he definitely looked worn, sporting dark circles under his eyes, but he was smiling. Carrying a bowl of herb and garlic breakfast potatoes.

"Hey everyone" he looked around at all the friendly faces, placing the bowl on the table. "Becca's on mom duty, but she says hi. And she sent this." Becca also didn't want to join the party because she was not on the team anymore, but that was... a topic for another day. "Does anyone have coffee?..."

She looked around at the Mansion being rebuilt, progress was going well but the place would never be the same. She was not sure she had done quite enough to be at a party like this but it was a sign of what she wanted to do with her life. Luna's hopes and dreams had been on becomming an x men ever since she had recorded the first x men fights on tv she had seen she had re watched those scenes over and over. She had lost things she had held deer in the Mansion and would need to learn all new places to hide now but over all she thought i had been worth it.

She had spent almost two hours in the shower for this due to all her fur so her fur almost shined, interrupted only by the short sky blue dress she had chosen to wear, modified for her large fluffy tail. She could already smell the food and tell the differences on what had been brought and or cooked and she heard the bird songs change as well. From the voices she knew their were many who had made it before her which he had assumed. She really had to find a better way to shower.

She was so excited her initial reach for the door handle missed but as she opened it, she looked around the space seeing the people there. She blinked a few times and did her best to focus, her glasses having been crushed in her room. her hearing and sence of smell however easily let her distinguish the people she could not quite make out.

"Hello" she said a bit shyly once sh saw Sam there. She was holding 2 Gallon sized cartons of orange juice, not really sure what to offer to the gathering but still excited to be there given away by her twitching tail. her ears twitched at the sounds as she set the orange juice down and ran a clawed hand through her exposed fur.

”Think I can.” Sam said shifting to the side and opening two burners as he focused on the other two until the bacon was finished. ”How you holding up? Gemma? Kids?” the icemancer looked to the breakfast ingredients Jorge brought and his mouth started to water more.

”You’re right. Wish we could do this everyday.” Sam smelling the food that people started to bring in. Some already cooked some not. ”With what they went through already they deserve more.” he said waving to Shin as he entered weilding a caravan of cooking supplies.

”The bacon debt continues to grow.” he said laughing. An ice clone formed where Sam was standing a second ago and started to maintain the bacon. So he could help Shin with the set up.

Carrick and Praxi arrived next, followed by Liz. The icemancer was already smirking at the interaction between the trainees, new and former. ”You have to ask?” Sam shouted to Mirror holding up a cup of freshly poured coffee then setting th epot down on one of the tables so everyone could help themselves. ”We’ll just make sure she gets a big plate on your way out.”

The icemancer didn’t comment on how tired his friend looked, just smiled and offered him the mug. They could talk later about everything, right now it was about the newest members of the team ”Hey Luna! Glad you could make it, hope you brought your appitite!”

”Any one need a hand cooking or setting up?” the icemancer asked keeping a mind on the bacon the ice clone was tending to.

Grateful for the space on the stove, Jorge began to prepare the Migas. After tearing up some tortilla into stripes and cracking several eggs into a small bowl, he sprinkled some oil into a pan and threw in the tortilla and seasoned the stripped bits with salt. He let those crisp in the pan while he beat the eggs and nodded to same.

”Oh yeah, everyone’s doing good,” he said with a nod. ”Gemma and everyone set up at my old place for now but I’m sure Gemma is eager to move back in here to be near the students again.”

It was difficult for her. He knew that. Gemma was an active person who really threw herself into watching over these kids. They needed it and she had a big heart. So when the mansion was destroyed, the first thing after she began to work on getting those kids into places where they could feel safe. That was one of the things he loved about his wife, she had a passion and an energy the world needed more of.

He glanced over as more people began to arrive and gave them all a nod and a smile. ”Thank Shin. I was worried there wouldn’t be enough for everyone but seems everything is brining enough.”

As the new members began to arrive he greeted them with a smile and a hello, but for Carrick he had to arch an eyebrow. Those burritos looked awfully familiar to him. He eyed the griffon for a second before he smirked, gave him a slight nod, and then went back to cooking. A lot has changed.

Once the tortillas were crispy and seasoned enough, there was a hiss as the scrambled up eggs were poured into the pan and Jorge began to mixed the two together. The scent of frying eyes and salted tortillas filled the air as the eggs began to soak into and crust the torn up tortillas. It was a smell that instantly brought him back to his own home. In silence he continued to work, pulling out the ingredients to make his homemade salsa.

It did seem like everybody had something.

“Hey, thanks Luna!” Shin said, as he saw the skunk girl. She had brought Oj. Things were starting to consolidate on the various tables. “OJ is my favorite.” He confirmed, as he shifted it with other stuff. Like coffee anyone may have brought, some tea bags. If anyone wanted hot water, they could boil it. They didn’t have any champagne for mimosas, but other than that, they were doing well. Juice and stuff were in the pink and purple table. Yep.

They had Jorge’s food, Sam’s bacon, his pancakes, Carricks “food” (Shin was wary of things Carrick brought to eat), muffins, OJ, coffee, delicious-smelling potatoes (thanks Becca, thanks Mirror), and some type of savory pastry.

“Thanks, everybody!” He said.

Once they were ready, he planned to help dish everyone up and help with cleanup. For the moment, Shin stood at the ready to assist anyone who needed the help. And he made it verbally known.

“Anyone need a second set of hands?” He offered. His stuff was already done.

”I saw that.” Carrick treated Praxi like any other girl, which meant he occasionally forgot that her eyes were just spots she kept in her head to see. It was harder to see behind her through all the green of her head, but she just barely made out the outline of a tongue. Little punk.

Liz and Carrick had a complicated history Praxi was aware of, enough to be supportive and be a buffer. Liz was always nice to Praxi, though she did note Liz was another guest at the breakfast who technically wasn’t on the team. Yet. ”We’re doing great, I think. As is Amethyst; I’m sure she’s glad to have the apartment to herself for a few hours,” she joked.

For all the… complications that came with living with Carrick and Amethyst, Praxi was surprisingly enjoying her current living situation. They weren’t kids anymore; in a lot of ways, they had matured and grown in how they acted together. She could hardly even call Amethyst a frenemy anymore. She did avoid calling her Princess to other people; they might not understand a former oppressed subject using the title as an ironic but playful nickname.

Praxi waved enthusiastically when Gawain entered the room. It was still odd not having Mis— well, Rebecca at team events. Everyone encouraged her to come around, but she was surely busy with her own magic things.

”Our stuff’s all cooked; just gotta get it on the tealighter things.” Setting down the food they brought, Praxi watched nervously as Jorge inspected the burritos. She was mentally preparing to explain why she had to return Amethyst’s boyfriend as an ice sculpture, but Jorge seemed to approve. She looked back at Carrick, forming a proud smile.

Praxi joined Luna, her fellow trainee, in grabbing some juice. She liked most foods, but sweet and fruity and sour things always agreed with her. ”It’s nice. Getting everyone back together like this. Once repairs are done, all team meetings should totally be brunch.” Maybe not the most serious meetings, but the regular meetings would definitely benefit from pancakes.

Skye was running late. Very late. She wasn't expecting a text message from Sam; hell she really wasn't expecting anything, all things considered. Yeah, she randomly showed up to help fend off the mansion but before that, she'd been hiding from her past, from her decisions, from, everything. And after that, well...she went right back to hiding for the most part. But as soon as her phone went off, she sprang into action, or tried to, anyway. Living in a motel was...not ideal.

She pulled on her favorite hoodie, a pair of skinny jeans, and the boots she always wore before darting out the door and to the corner donut shop to buy...well...all the donuts. Not all but a very healthy few boxes. It was fine, everything was fine. Aside from getting stuck in line, having trouble hailing a Ryde, and stepping into a puddle that turned out to be ankle deep. Yeah. She finally walked into the mansion kitchen, carrying one box of donuts less than she had been; her pants stained with pink and brown icing and sprinkles, her left pants leg was soaked, and the room emanated with a purple light from her palms.

"I uh....morning, everyone..." she said nervously as she looked around the room, setting all the donuts on a nearby table.

”Good,” he said a little surprised Praxi could see through the back of her head. He made note. It just meant he’d have to be more careful when he was around her. Last thing he needed was more eyes on him. ”Just means I don’t have ta do it twice.” he said smirking before squinting his eyes as Liz addressed him.

”Lizzy.” he said bluntly. His tail flicked behind him in mild irritation as he bit into the one burrito he still had in his hand. His tone changed when Praxi brought up the princess, even if Liz was near them. ”Yeah, she’s probably just lounging. Princesses.” he said knowing she was enjoying the quite.

”They love me here.” he whispered to Praxi when she smiled at him. It was Jorge’s recipe after all. How many times did he break into the man’s apartment to raid the fridge? It was a comfort food he kept with him all these years.

Taking another bite out of the burrito he waved to Luna and the newcomer. Even if he didn’t know who she was. Most of the people seemed they all knew each other, and Carrick was anything but shy. The Irishman followed the newcomer and the plate of donuts and helped himself to a powdered sugar one and taking a bite giving him a white sugared mustache in the process.

Now double fisting food he smirked, ”Like yer pants.” Carrick said to Skye as he pointed out the sprinkles and frosting glaze.

Elizabeth nodded slightly in acknowledgment of Carrick. She was relieved - it seemed that they were finally finding the path to civility after years and years of...cattiness. That was one less thing to balance now. It wasn't perfect and she didn't miss his flicking tail, but she didn't say anything else.

She smiled more broadly at Praxi. "Ah, I'm glad you're well, and that Amethyst isn't overworking herself," she said with a playful wink. Liz was well aware that Amethyst was no slacker, despite the assumptions many people made about royalty.

Others soon filed in. Tetsuya and Luna with their food and drink. A woman Liz didn't know but seemed familiar anyways. She thought back to news reports she'd seen over the years about the X-Men. Was that....Flashbang? Liz smiled in greeting. "Morning, morning, morning!" she said to the three.

Then Liz was left with nothing to do, or at least until she saw Carrick's new moustache. "Let's check out what kind of napkins and silverware we have," Liz said to Shin. "I feel like this could get messy real quick, unless you want to make everyone shard-forks and triangle knives." Then she slid into the kitchen and starting rifling through drawers and cabinets.