It was Saturday afternoon and Cameron was outside the mansion, shooting hoops when Jean came outside, Rachel with her. Cameron knew Scott was in the danger room with Logan and Gambit, involved in a heavy training session. He figured Jean must have come up from the small house she shared with Scott to say hello. "Hey Aunt Jean, Hey Rachel."

"Cameron!" Rachel scampered over to him, hooking her tiny fingers into his cut-offs and hanging from them. She'd been sick with an ear infection this past week, but she seemed to be fully recovered and bursting with energy. He scooped one arm around her, pulling her up like a sack of flour. She giggled wildly, thinking this was terrific fun, hanging limply in his arm.

Jean looked at him, her eyes half closed. "I just thought I'd come out and say hi and see how you were doing."

He studied her carefully. Jean looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes. Obviously Ray's ear infection had been trying on the family. Cameron knew it was even worse because Scott had been out of town most of the week on X-Men business. Her shoulders were even slumped over, something Jean never did. Usually she walked straight and tall. "Are you feeling all right, Aunt Jean?"

"I'm okay," Jean said, sighing softly. "Just tired. Rachel woke up at four thirty this morning, all raring to go and she hasn't slowed down since. I got up early, because I knew Scott had this session today and I wanted to give him a chance to sleep in. He seemed so tired when he came home Friday." She sighed. "I was actually hoping Siku and Cierra were here and would give me a hand with her, but they're out shopping."

"Can I play wif' the ball?" Rachel asked, trying to twist around in his arms and grab onto the basketball. "Plllease?"

He put the child down, handing her the ball. "Go to town kid." She started rolling the ball along the basketball court, chasing after it, giggling wildly. He shook his head, grinning at her antics and turned back to Jean. "Well, I'm here and I'm not doing anything," he pointed out. "And you really do look beat. Why don't I watch Rachel for you and you can go back in and crash on the couch in the rec. room for awhile."

Jean's eyes lit up for a moment, then fell. "I couldn't impose on you like that," she said softly. "She's my daughter and my responsibility. If you could just help me keep her amused...."

"Help nothing," Cameron said firmly. "Jean, pardon my language, but you look like shit. Go get some rest."

She shook her head stubbornly. "I don't want to impose on you, I'm her mother."

"Impose my butt," He grinned. "Jean, you work harder than most people. You're a member of the X-Men, you take care of a house, a husband, and a child. You aren't a slacker because you need two or three hours to sleep." He put his hand on her shoulder. "I wasn't doing anything anyway. I'd be more than happy to keep Rachel amused till either you wake up, or Scott comes out of the danger room."

Rachel looked up, her sharp little ears catching one word. "Scott-Daddy!" She crowed happily, bouncing over to Jean and enthusiastically clinging to her legs. "Where's Daddy? I wanna play wi'f him."

"He's' busy right now," Jean explained patiently. "He'll play with you later, okay?"

"I wanna play wi'f him now," Rachel stubbornly insisted. "Wanna go home and do Leggos. He promised he'd help me build a Leggo fort."

Cameron reached out and pulled Rachel away from Jean gently. "Your Daddy is busy right now," he said, gently but firmly. "And your Mommy needs to get some sleep. How about you and I play together for awhile? Would you like that?"

Her tiny face screwed up in a frown for a moment as she considered this. "Will ya play wi'f the ball wi'f me?" she finally asked.

"Sure," Cameron agreed.

"Then Oh-Kay."

Cameron looked over at Jean. "See? She's fine with the idea. Go get some rest."

The offer was too tempting. "All right, if you insist."

"I do." Cameron' s voice was firm. "Go rest. I'll baby-sit."

Jean leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Cameron, I owe you big time for this."

Cameron fought against blushing "Just get some rest," he finally mumbled. "You don't owe me anything."

Once Jean was out of sight, Cameron turned to Rachel. "Guess it's just you and me kid." he grinned. "What would you like to do?"

"Play wi'f the ball," Rachel said, scooping up the basketball.

"That's a basketball," Cameron explained patiently. "Would you like to learn how to play basketball?"

"All right."

He soon figured out that teaching her basketball was not in the program. She did not want to learn how to dribble, or to shoot baskets. She just wanted to chase the ball around the court, and she wanted him to do it with her. What amazed him was her speed and energy. She leaped around, falling on the ball, chasing after it, kicking and throwing it with all her might for two hours non stop. This kid gives a better work-out than Cyke, he thought, as she came running up to him holding the ball proudly.

"Here!" She handed it to him carefully. "I'm hungry."

He looked at his watch, which read 12:20 p.m. Past her normal lunch time. "Let's go see if your Mom is awake or your dad is finished up," he suggested.

"Sure!" She leaped on top of him, scrambling to be given a piggyback ride.

Jean was still sound asleep in the rec. room and Cyke was still in the danger room. He debated if he should wake Jean up, but she looked so comfortable that he decided to let her sleep. He explained this to Rachel, who shrugged.

"Mama can sleep," she concluded. "But I'm still hungry!"

"Well, let's go into the kitchen and see if we can find you some lunch," Cameron suggested.

"Tuna fish!" Rachel informed him, still ridding on his shoulders. "I want tuna fish."

"I'll bet we can find you some tuna fish," he assured her, walking into the kitchen.

"Goodie. I love tuna fish," She enthusiastically informed him. "Can I sit on the counter?"

The counter was only three feet or so off the ground, even if she fell, she wouldn't get hurt. Like a cat, she always seemed to land on her feet. Cameron put her on the countertop. "Okay Rachel, I'll see if I can find some tuna fish."

He opened up the refrigerator, pushing things aside, looking. He knew worst come to worst, he could open a can and make up some tuna salad, but he didn't want to do that unless he was sure there wasn't some made up already. Tuna was a pretty popular lunch with Siku and Rogue so there was usually some all ready and waiting. He moved aside a jar of Greek olives and found a container. Behind him, he heard Rachel rattling something and giggling, but he didn't think twice about it. Opening the container, he judged there was enough in there to feed both him and Rachel lunch. He'd mix up another can after they ate, in case someone else wanted some later.

Taking the container and a loaf of bread, he shut the refrigerator door. "We're in luck Rachel," he announced, turning to face her. "We have....

His voice trailed off and his eyes went wide as he looked at the child. She was still on the counter, but she'd grabbed the flour canister, opened it, and poured it over her head. She looked at him, grinning, her entire body covered in white flour, making her look like a tiny snowman. "Whee!" she proudly crowed. "I find some powder.. I put it on..."

"Oh Rachel!" He groaned, putting the sandwich fixings on the kitchen table. "What have you gotten into?"

"I put on the powder!" Rachel chortled. "See? Cameron put on powder too!" She grabbed a tiny handful from the pile around her and tossed it at him. "Powder feels nice..."

"Rachel, that's not baby powder, that's flour," Cameron explained, wiping the flour she'd tossed on his chest. "You're not suppose to play with that!"

"I'm not?" She looked at him with an innocent expression.

Too late, her remembered Jean telling him that Rachel had discovered opening boxes and containers was great fun and how she and Scott had spent the better part of one afternoon installing special fasteners on the kitchen cupboards so she wouldn't spill everything all over the place. How am I going to get this mess cleaned up? He wondered, turning to the kitchen closet and taking out a broom.

"Cameron, I'm still hungry," she reminded him as he swept.

"I know you are," he said, starting to sweep the floor. "But I've gotta clean up this mess first. Once I get this and you cleaned up, I'll make you lunch, I promise."

"Okay." she agreed happily, grabbing for the sugar container.

"No!" He shouted, reaching out and taking the sugar container from her. "Please, Rachel, don't play with that okay?" Careful to not get too much flour on him, he picked her up and lowered her to the floor. Flour fell from her clothes and hair as he set her on her feet.

The moment her feet hit the floor, she dodged past him and started running through the kitchen. "I'm gonna go see if Daddy's done!" she chirped, running through the dining room, happily spreading flour in her wake.

"Rachel NO!" he shouted taking off after her. "You're getting flour everywhere!"

She ignored his cry, intent on her mission, running through the living room. He chased after her, knowing she was heading downstairs to the observation deck of the danger room. She already knew where it was, having watched her parents in there many many times.

He caught up with her just as she was about to head down the stairs. Reaching out, he snagged her by the arm and pulled her back. "Rachel, you can't go down there! Your daddy is busy and we have to get you cleaned up, okay?"

"Okay!" She twisted back, throwing her arms around him, leaving a nice white mark on his legs, shorts, and part of his chest.

Clean up took him about forty five minutes. He ended up having to carry Rachel outside to dust off the flour. Fortunately, Rachel spent enough time up at the mansion that Jean and Scott kept a couple changes of clothes for her there. He striped off her flour covered outfit, shaking all the flour off her body and put a clean pair of overalls and a pink shirt on her. She squirmed happily the entire time he changed her, making it difficult. When he got her changed, he hung her flour covered clothes up on the clothesline, hoping the breeze would help shake the flour out. Then he carried her into the kitchen again, sitting her down at the table. "Rachel, please... don't move," he asked her. "I have to clean up the mess you made and if you start walking around, you'll just make it worse." He tried to keep his voice even and calm, but he was slightly annoyed and she picked up on it.

"Cameron mad at me?" she asked, her lower lip sticking out in a frown.

"No Ray, I'm not mad at you," he said, forcing himself to smile. "I'm just mad at what you did, cause I have to clean it up."

"Am I bad?" she asked, the lower lip beginning to quiver.

"No honey, you're not bad," He ruffled her hair. "What you did was bad, but that doesn't mean you're a bad person."

"Okay..." She sighed, still looking upset. "I wait while you clean."

"Thanks, I appreciate that."

He vacuumed the living room and the hall leading to the stairs, getting up all the flour, then went into the kitchen to clean that area up. By this point, Rachel had regained her good humor and with it, her appetite. "I'm still hungry," she reminded Cameron.

"I know you are," Cameron said, keeping his voice agreeable. "And as soon as I finish sweeping this up, I'll make you a sandwich, okay?"

"Tuna fish sandwich!" She reminded him, swinging her little legs, accidentally kicking him in the head as he bent down to sweep under the table.

"Ow!" He rubbed his head. "Sure thing. Tuna fish sandwich."

"And Cherry Jello," she added.

"Um... we don't have any cherry Jello," he told her, mentally reviewing the contents of the refrigerator. "I don't think we have any Jello at all."

"No Jello?" She looked at him, lower lip beginning to quiver again. "But I like cherry Jello wi'f tuna fish."

"But we don't have any," Cameron explained patiently, as he carefully swept up the flour and poured it in the dustbin, making a mental note to pick up some flour the next time he was in town. "You'll have to settle for potato chips."

"Mama always gives me cherry jello wi'f tuna fish," she pointed out, her little arms crossed over her chest.

"Well your mom is sleeping now," he reminded her. "And we don't have any..."

She leaped to the floor. "I go wake her!" she announced, heading out of the kitchen. "Wake her t'make cherry Jello..."

"No!" He reached out snagging her by one of the straps of her overalls. She immediately stopped, flying backwards onto her rear end. "Rachel, you okay?"

She looked over her shoulder at him. "Fall and hit my butt!" she crowed proudly. "BOOM!" She scrambled up again, running over and hugging his legs. "Let's go wake Mommy. Want jello wi'f my tuna fish."

"Your mom is sleeping." He pried her off his legs and sat her at the kitchen table again.

"Mama tired?" she asked.

"Yes, your mom is tired," he told her, running a hand through his hair.

"Mama sick?" she asked, eyes suddenly round and wide with worry.

"No Ray, not sick. Just tired. She needs to sleep."

"Mama take a nap," she said, nodding.

"Yeah, your Mom's taking a nap," he agreed. "Speaking of naps, don't you take one?"

Immediately, the sparkle in her eye changed to one of fire. "No NAPS!" she shouted, little nostrils flared. "Not tired. NO NAP. Lunch."

Sensitive area there, back off, he thought, immediately changing the subject. "Okay Rachel. Let's make you a sandwich." He turned back to the sandwich materials still lying on the counter. "You want some chips with your sandwich?"

She nodded. "An' cherry Jello."

"Rachel, there is no cherry Jello," Cameron explained, slightly exasperated as he started making her a sandwich. "There is no Jello at all."

"No Jello?" She tipped her head to one side, watching him carefully. "None at all?'

"No Rachel, there is no Jello." he repeated, for what felt like the ninety-nine millionth time.

"Cameron make some?" she asked, a hopeful expression.

"It would take to long to make," he explained, trying to keep his voice smooth and even. "Besides, we don't even have any Jello I can mix up." He didn't know if that was fact or not, and at this point, he didn't care. The last thing he wanted to give this child now was something that was ninety percent sugar.

After a lengthily conversation, which mostly consisted of Cameron repeating the same thing over and over again, he was finally able to convince Rachel that there indeed was no Jello and there just wasn't going to be any either. She didn't take the news well, but when her lunch was finally made, she decided to accept what she got. She ate an entire tuna fish sandwich, a handful of potato chips, two pickle spears, and drank three glasses of milk. "Cameron?" She looked at him, wiping the milk from her mouth with the back of her hand.

"What, Ray?" He wiped the milk off her hand with a napkin.

"You make the bestest tuna fish sandwich. Almost as good as Mommy."

"Thanks," He grinned, reaching out and ruffling her hair.

Jean was still asleep when lunch was finished and Scott was still in the danger room. Cameron had no idea what Rachel was suppose to do after lunch. He wondered if after lunch time, was nap time, but after her first reaction to the word, nap, he decided he better not risk it. He considered seeing if he could round up one of the other X-Men or his mom and dad to see if they could give him a hand, but dismissed that idea. He was the one who agreed to watch Rachel, he would see it through to the bitter end.

Even if it kills me, he thought, sighing. He took her outside again, knowing if he kept her in the mansion, she would eventually get the idea to go into the recreation room, see her mother, and wake her up.

The moment they were outside, Rachel took off running. "I ruuuun!" she hollered.

"Rachel!" he shouted. "Get back here!"

She did not listen. She was as free as a little bird and wanted to take full advantage of it. Her small legs flew across the back lawn.

Cameron sighed. He was no slouch in the physical fitness department, but he had a feeling Rachel was an energy vampire, because the more time he spent with her, the more energetic she got and the more tired he got. "Crap." Taking a deep breath, he started running after her.

She ran across the manicured, landscaped back yard, heading towards the woods. She knew she was not allowed in the woods and had no intention of going there, it just felt so good to run. She knew what she could handle and what she could not. She also knew Cameron was behind her, but that was part of the fun.

Cameron saw her headed for the woods and put on an extra burst of speed. While not exactly a dangerous place, the woods were full of rocks and limbs and all sorts of hidden pitfalls that could prove rather dangerous to a young child. If she gets hurt, Jean and Scott will never forgive me! he thought. I shouldn't have agreed to watch the kid if I couldnt' do it.

She ran to the very edge of the lawn, right to the treeline that marked the entrance to the woods and stopped abruptly. "Not suppos-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Cameron came up from behind. He was just about to grab onto her, when his foot slid into a hole. His ankle twisted painfully, and he lurched forward, falling face first into the grass. "Shit!"

Hearing the swear word, Rachel froze. That was a bad word! Gasped, then slowly turned around. "Cameron said something bad!"

Face still in the grass, he started pushing himself up on his arm, trying very hard to keep his anger in check. "I sure did," he muttered.

"You aren't suppo-" She stopped as she got her first good look at Cameron's face. He had hit his nose when he fell, and blood was spurting from it. "Bleeding!"

"That's right, I'm bleeding," he snapped, gently dragging his foot from the hole. "My foot is sore and my nose is bleeding, thanks to you!"

Her eyes widened into two perfect circles of blue. "Oh!" It was one thing to run, to play, but it was another to... hurt someone. Had she really hurt Cameron? She did not mean to. "I h-hurt you?" she asked, her lower lip beginning to quiver.

"Yes you d-" Cameron began, then stopped. As angry as he was, he did not want to make the child cry. "Aw, Ray, it's okay."

"I made Cameron hurt, I made you mad!" Rachel said, bursting into tears of both sorrow and sympathy.

He reached up and wiped his arm over his nose, getting rid of the blood. Although it felt sore, he did not think it was broken and the bleeding seemed to have stopped almost as soon as it began. "Really, Rachel, it's fine," he said, trying to assure her.

"What did I do?" she asked, still not sure how this was all her fault.

"You went running and I chased you and I fell," he explained.

"Then it's your fault," she pointed out.

His nostrils flaired and he was about to disagree, when he looked at her and realized if he raised his voice, even in slight anger, the crying would begin again. Instead he concentrated on checking his foot. Although it was sore, he did not think he twisted it. Slowly, he started moving to sit up, testing it.

Rachel moved closer to watch. "Cameron okay?" she asked, hopefully.

He shifted some of his weight to the sore ankle. It hurt like crazy. "Ow!"

Rachel came closer. "Can Rachel help?"

"No," he said, then realized that might not be good. "Well, yeah, actually you can help. Walk with me. "

"Where are we goin'?" she asked.

He pointed to the the lawn chairs on the deck. "Over there. Cameron really needs to sit down until his foot feels better."

"Okay."

They walked together across the yard, Cameron limping. About half way, Rachel reached out and took his hand. "I help you," she said.

Cameron smiled and took her hand. When they got to the chairs, he colapsed in one, gratefully.

"I go get Uncle Hank?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, I'll be fine, I just need to rest a moment. W-would you like to sit in my lap while I rest? It might make me feel better, faster."

She hesitated for only a second, then gently climbed onto his lap. She jammed her index finger into her mouth, leaning her head on his chest, looking up at him. For the first time all day, she seemed content not to move, just to lie quietly. He wrapped one arm around her, stroking her hair gently. "Rachel, would you like to hear a story?" he asked. She nodded slowly. Clearing his throat, he began making up a story about special little princess named Rachel and all the wonderful adventures she went on, fighting dragons and running freely through the enchanted forrests that surrounded her castle. She snuggled up to him, listening, her head on his chest.

After awhile, the sound of his voice and the warm sun began working on her, and her little eyes fluttered shut. He continued the story a few more minutes, to make sure she was sound asleep. His leg and nose felt a lot better now.

Just as he was about to stop the tale, Jean and Scott walked out. Jean was rubbing her eyes as though she was still trying to wake up. Scott's hair was wet from his recent shower. They walked over to him.

"Shhh," Cameron put his fingers to his lips, looking down at Rachel. "She's sleeping."

"Cameron I'm sorry," Jean said softly. "I didn't mean to sleep so long."

"Aw, it's all right," he said, his voice as soft as hers. "You needed your sleep."

Scott leaned over, taking Rachel from Cameron gently, so as not to wake her. "I really appreciate your being willing to watch her," he said solemnly.

"I hope she wasn't too much trouble," Jean looked at Cameron, her eyebrows furrowed in worry. "I know she can be a handful."

"Well, to be honest Aunt Jean, there were a couple times this afternoon where I seriously considered getting a vasectomy," Cameron confessed, grinning. "But later, when we were sitting out here, and I was telling her a story..." His voice trailed off for a moment, remembering how nice it felt, her little body curled up to his, the wide eyed look of admiration on her face as she listened to his story. He looked up at Jean and grinned. "Well, suddenly I envied you and Scott. Someday, maybe I'll meet someone and have a couple kids of my own..."

Jean smiled softly. "I'm sure you will Cameron. And I'm sure you'll make an excellent father."

Rachel stirred in Scott's arms, her eyes opening slowly. "Daddy?"

Scott smile down at her. "Yeah, it's me honey."

She threw her arms around him hugging him as though she hadn't seen him in months rather than just a few hours. "Daddy, I missed you."

"I missed you too, sweetheart," He hugged her tightly. "Did you have a good time with Cameron today?"

"I had a wonderful time!" she crowed. The lack of cherry jello and other mishaps seemed to have disappeared in her mind. "Can Cameron watch me again sometime?"

"Maybe," Jean said, winking at Cameron.

Cameron rose from the lawn chair and scratched Rachel's head. "I'd be happy to watch you again sometime kid." He looked from Scott to Jean. "I'm serious too. If you two need to get out, get some free time together, I'll watch her."

"Cameron, that's very nice," Jean said softly.

"Yeah, but be careful, we may take you up on that," Scott said, grinning.

Cameron smiled. "Good, because I meant it. Even when the next two or three come along."

Jean leaned over, kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks a million for helping me out. I feel a hundred percent better now."

"I'm glad," Cameron said softly.

"Daddy! Rachel crowed, squirming happily in Scott's arms. "I wanna go home an' play wi'f my Leggos!"