"Oh yeah, all the time. Cops seem to have a knack for getting their arms sliced open by mutant pickpockets and then taking me out for drinks. Trust me, you weren't my first," Juliette teased with a wink and continued to sip her coffee. It really was good coffee. She made a mental note to ask him what brand he used. Or just steal his.

"What, do you want a carefully worded essay or something?" She laughed at his comment. "I guess the X-men stand for something. In a world where no one stands for anything. And do some good for the world. That's a little broad, but you said there's no wrong answer, so it's all you're going to get."

Juliette shook her head at his offer. "No, that's alright. I don't mind doing it myself, I've just been taking my time with it. It was a nice apartment, you know. It feels weird giving that up in such a competitive market." So, she lived down the hall from him. That was certainly going to be interesting.

"Are you going to tell me the second thing, then?" She questioned curiously. After the Alex information, she almost didn't want to find out another secret, but at the same time she knew it would eat away at her if she didn't know.

What was the second thing? Oh yeah, he kidnapped some kids under the powers of a telepath. Yep that was what he was going to tell her. Sam opened his mouth and filled it with some coffee. ”I was just kidding. lied Sam, he knew it was going to come back and bite him in the rear later but he really didn’t want to scare her off. ”Sides, I tell you everything about me know you might get bored with me. Mystery is part of my charm.” or his second mutation according to some.

”I guess I did say that, and it was broad.” Sam sipped his coffee, ”I might ask for a little more information later on but you do know that we do things like fight natural disasters and mutants who want to take over the world right?” Sam asked trying to hype up the description. He didn’t want to scare her off he just wanted her to know it could be dangerous. Not that she couldn’t handle herself but if he was growing fond of her and something happened he wouldn’t forgive himself or Cafas at this point.

”I’m sure you have your reasons… easier commute? Next door neighbor you want to trail. Something like that?” Sam asked as he teased more into his coffee. ”Seriously though, you are gonna probably see me everyday now. I might actually stay in my room now opposed to my office.” Sam mused. He did have a bed there. Then again he did have a bed in the man cave as well. He didn’t sleep often but his bedroom bed was far more comfortable than the one hidden in his office.

"I know," Juliette nodded and sipped her coffee. She was well aware of the danger when she joined the team. Then, she knew she might regret it when she actually went on a mission, but that was best saved for later. At least for now she knew she was comfortable with her decision. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm a big girl."

"The commute was most of it. I don't have a car, remember?" There wasn't really a great way to get from the mansion to New York. She had rented a car for the first couple of weeks while she got settled in, but she knew that wasn't sustainable. "Plus the traffic getting to and from is horrible, and it isn't like this job pays much. Free room and board can be pretty appealing."

"But yeah, you really should watch out. I'm known for my stalking habits. Whole list of restraining orders to my name." She chuckled lightly, "but seriously, this is a nice place."

"What initially brought you here?" It was a similar question to one she had asked on the first date, but she was digging for a bit more. She actually wanted to know more about his childhood and where he was from. That seemed like a good enough way to steer the conversation that way. 

Sam nodded his head, ”I know you are, not many can do better that me on that lion simulation.” Sam paused and spoke into his mug, ”Three dates and I enjoy your company. Just want to make sure you know what you are doing is all.” Sam shifted uncomfortably still not used to admitting something like that in some time.

When she asked about what brought him to the mansion he tensed a bit but tried to makes it with the coffee mug again. He took a sip afraid she was going to learn more than she wanted to about him so he tried to make it basic as he could. ”I was taken from my home when I was a kid and kind of been looking for a home ever since.” he had one in the ‘not-real life’. ”This one stuck and I feel like I’m needed here. It’s a nice feeling than going from place to place wondering where the next bed was or hot meal.” he might have did a little time jumping in his timeline for her sake. If she asked around she’d get a better idea.

Again, Sam enjoyed being around her so he didn’t want to scare her off, ”and the X-men… I always wanted to make up for $$$$ I did in the past. Neena pointed out that the X-Men was a good way to do it, that too stuck.” Sam said with a shrug. He started at the bottom and eventually worked his way up to a team leader status. It took some time but he was happy with the work he did most of the time.

Sam sipped the coffee again then raised an eyebrow, ”No car means no ride to work… you quit your job then?” Sam asked curiously. Starting to realize she was about a big of a mystery as he was.

Juliette blinked at Sam, a little surprised at his revelation of feelings. It wasn't as if she avoided relationships, but she typically erred on the side of caution. It was a good feeling to know that there was someone that cared about her well being. "Thanks," she gave him a small smile. "I do know what I'm doing, though."

She listened carefully as he explained some of his background. It didn't exactly sound easy, to say the least, and it didn't seem like it was something easy for him to talk about. His description was definitely basic, but it was enough for the time being. Juliette could tell that he was holding something back, but didn't push for it. She could understand that there were just some things that you didn't share on the third date. "I'm glad it stuck," she told him when he was finished explaining, accompanying it with another smile.

"Technically, yes, but I still have my degree, so if this whole shindig doesn't work out, I can always go back to it. I probably won't be able to get as good of a position in such a good location, but sometimes you have to roll the dice." She shrugged, "it may have been a bad move, or it may have been a very good one. I guess I'll have to wait and see."

”I know I could always use a steady pair of hands…” Sam said sipping his coffee before adding, ”Stitches… I meant stiches…” Sam said setting his coffee down and pointing to his arm where she stitched the first time they met. ”Also I know Doc can always use some help in the infirmary if you would like to make a little money on the side I’m sure he’d hire you.” Sam said.

The ice-mancer sipped his coffee again and started to chuckle, ”Definitely gives me a reason other than just healing injuries to go to the infirmary.” Sam mused knowing Doc would be happy to see Sam other than just healing injuries.

Standing with his coffee Sam raised an eyebrow, ”So let’s see this room that beats a New York apartment. You know they say you can learn a lot about someone by their room. Let’s go see.” Sam teased with his mug.

"You think so?" Juliette brightened. Working in the infirmary would definitely be a win-win. Sure, she definitely wouldn't be as useful as the Doc, and she would leave more scars, but there would probably be something she could do to help. A nursing degree was far from useless. "I was considering talking to someone about maybe teaching a health class, but considering I don't have a teaching degree, this might be a better fit."

"Well, it doesn't exactly beat it, but the location isn't bad," she grinned as she rose from her chair. She carried her coffee mug with her as she began to walk down the hall, expecting Sam to follow. "You'll have to see how much you can gather from it, then. But just know, yours is up next."

”I don’t really have a teaching degree either, but then they don’t really have a set curriculum for beat the tar out of kids and making sure they know how to defend themselves. I like my job.” Sam said nodding his head and smiling into his mug. ”Kinda like a school nurse… not sure if you had to dress the part or not though. Not sure I’d complain if you wanted to though.” Sam said shifting his eye and mumbling that last bit. He said it loud enough for her to hear but he didn’t want it to be loud enough for anyone else to hear.

”Wait… I thought I was exempt from this?” Sam asked puckering his cheeks and scrunching his nose when he thought about his room. Unless Ghost stopped in to gather the beer cans and bottles it might look a bit messy. More than the occasional shirt on the ground or towel on the floor. ”Hmmm…” Sam said as they walked out of the kitchen and headed to the stairs. ”Maybe we should do this… I mean I have kids to take care of.” Sam said thinking of his pets but he knew she would be thinking of Alex.

”Lead the way I guess…” he said less excited than he was a few minutes before.

"'No, and I would be incredibly surprised if they did have a curriculum for that. Have you ever been inspected by a school board?" She knew why they taught the kids the way they did, and she knew that there likely weren't many parents to complain about it, since many of the kids came from the streets or worse, but it was till amazing to see some of the things they managed to get away with at the school. 

"I will be wearing regular clothes, thank you very much," Juliette shook her head at him and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "If the students are even half as bad as you are, then I'm not wearing anything other than regular clothes."

"Hey, why would you be exempt from it and not me?" She raised an eyebrow at him as she walked up the stairs. "Is there something you don't want me to see? What was that whole thing about learning a lot about someone from their room?"

>>"I mean I have kids to take care of.”

"You're talking about just Alex your pets, right?" She asked, forming it as more of a statement than a question. She didn't think she could deal with him having any other adopted or biological children running around. One was already a lot to deal with.

She reached her room a few seconds later and stopped in front of it. She turned the handle slowly, waiting for Sam's response before she went inside.

”The school has, I haven’t. I was busy that day… saving an island full of people from a volcano.” Sam said as if that was something normal. He tried to make it seem normal though because while it was one of the coolest things he had ever done in a sense it was in the norm for him. Sam looked over to her, ”You at least have a nursing degree so a school nurse should be easy for you to get if you want to talk about being ‘accredited’.” Sam said putting the word in air quotes. Sam would like someone to tell him he wasn’t allowed to teach self-defense because he didn’t go to a school for it. That would be an entertaining conversation that ended with someone going to see Doc.

”No one in the school is half as bad as I am. So you are in luck. You are affiliated with the worst in the school.” Sam said with a smirk. Sometimes it bothered him a little when people said he had a bad reputation but in this brief moment he was okay with it, especially if it meant Juliette wearing a nurse outfit. He shifted slightly and played up getting hit when she hit him. ”Punch pretty well for a nurse.” Sam teased as he added, ”Thought those hands were meant for killing hard-light lion constructs and healing?”

Sam waited behind her in silence before gesturing for her to continue, ”Told you before, I don’t have to worry about Alex.” lied Sam. ”My kids are Bruno and Cammie. They require as much attention as anyone can give them.” Sam said. He again tried not to think about his ‘not-real’ kids. They weren’t real and so they shouldn’t be mentioned.

”I’m guessing purple.” Sam said as he folded his arms behind her.

"A volcano, huh? Your life really isn't boring at all," she grinned at him. "I hope I'm not in over my head." Saving an island of people from a volcano might have been a normal experience for Sam, but it certainly wasn't for her.

"The worst, really? Maybe I should try my luck with someone else, then," she teased. "You can't possibly be the worst, though. This is a school for mutant teenagers."

So 'kids' was just referring to Alex and his pets. Good, she didn't think she would be able to deal with any more at that point. "Well, you'll have to introduce me to them," she said in an almost business-like tone. She was still getting over the initial shock of Alex, but trying to keep it from fully affecting the conversation. Pets, though, she could deal with quite well.

"Not quite," Juliette opened the door to reveal a simple brown room. There was the usual furniture; a bed, a bedside table, a dresser and a chair, and it was obvious that not much had been moved or changed. There were a few bags and boxes in the corner that had been picked at, but not unpacked. On the bedside table was a picture of a young Juliette with an older blonde woman, a set of keys, and a book. The overall room was decently clean, but just enough to she wouldn't have to worry about it.

"I haven't really done much with it yet," she sighed as she looked around. "Not sure how much you can gather from it."

”You are. I told you. I don’t do boring. I’d like to but it never works out.” Sam said thinking about how his ‘not-real’ life was a prime example of it. ”I mean I did have some help with it. Jorge was there and then a few others did the evacuation. We just slowed it.” Sam said thinking more on it. ”I wonder if my powers would work on a volcano if I got a boost…” he thought of Sveta for a second then forced her from his head. He was with Juliette now. She deserved his attention.

”Too late. Already invested time with me.” Sam smirked, ”okay maybe there are some who are worse.” Sam said remembering Tommy who could turn invisible. Sam used to have to keep an eye out for him with his thermal senses and his desire to sneak into the girls locker room. Sam decided to wait to warn Juliette about him. Sides she was close to his room. He had no problem doing a sweep for her is she wanted it.

”Brown..” Sam said looking around, ”You looked more like a purple… but I like it.” Sam said. The color of the walls never stayed the same for long. There were so many people moving in and out of the mansion they changed often. Sam just hoped they would stay brown for a while.

”Give me a sec.” Sam said as he walked into the room and looked around the way Eve had when she was investigating something. Hoping that he too could channel some of her echoes he searched the room. There was a photo of two women. One looked like Juliette if she was younger while the other was a blonde woman. Not much else stood out except for a few unpacked bags and boxes in the corner.

”You haven’t unpacked. That is probably the most obvious.” Sam said smirking, ”Not sure if you are gonna stay long huh?” he teased. He had seen it before someone moves into the mansion and keeps things in boxes or bags if something better comes up. Though the way she was talking about the mansion she seemed anxious to move in. ”Photo, and then you have that ice sculpture…” Sam pointed to a corner and a sculpture of a dog started to form. It was on two legs as if it was begging for attention.

”Mom, or sister?” Sam asked curiously as he shifted his gaze back to the photo.

"I think I've just been avoiding it," she motioned to the bags and boxes. "It's easier just to pick at things when I need them. Or maybe I just figure that I have lots of time to get stuff done." She had no real plans to leave any time soon. One move had been enough for a long time. 

"Oh yes, you've found my prized possession," Juliette walked over and picked up the dog sculpture. "Tasteful, don't you think?" She set it back down where she found it and wiped her hands on her pants. "A little cold, though. I'm not sure how long it's going to last."

She took a moment to pause as she glanced at the photo. Her expression fell slightly and she looked back down at the sculpture on the table. "Mom, though some days she felt more like a sister."

Timing was hard sometimes. He had to move his schedule around just to get some sleep though lately he had been taking it where he could get it when coffee wasn’t involved. ”Well you technically don’t have a job so I guess you got all the time in the world unless I decide to come distract you.” Sam said with a smirk.

When she picked up the dog then set it back down he waved his hand and it started to give off a slight smoke due to the fact that it was so cold. ”I like it, I think if you ask the resident ice maker he might come by and keep it going.” Sam said walking to one side of the room to the other to see if there was anything else he missed.

”I’m sorry.” Sam said as he tried to avoid eye contact with her. She said, ‘felt’ meaning she wasn’t in the picture anymore. Sam knew loss and knew how to avoid talking about it. ”What was she like?” he asked curiously as he walked over to a wall and leaned against it.

Juliette grinned at him from her spot across the room. "Well then maybe I'll just have to get more deliberate about getting a position with the Doc. That'll leave you less time to bug me and more time to focus on your... Kids..." She trailed off with a cough.

She examined the dog again thoughtfully as the smoke rose off of it. "Yeah, it is my prized possession, so I wouldn't want it to go to waste. You'll have to get me his card or something. What are his hours?"

Sam had moved over against the wall as he asked about her mother. Juliette sighed and looked down as she thought. It wasn't something that she liked to talk about, but she knew it would come up at some point. "Not exactly prime parenting material, I guess, but she was still an awesome mom. She was pretty much all I had growing up. I mean, I can't blame her for anything. She was young, and definitely not ready for kids, and I wasn't exactly the easiest to raise, but she did her best."

She shook her head after a moment. "That sounds much worse than it was. She was definitely fun, there's no denying that."