"All Creatures Great and Small"
"Alpha"
"Babes in Smallville"
"Babysat"
"The Ballad of Trish and Henry"
"Blues"
"Bobby and Hank say 'Farewell, New York' and Other Things"
"Bobby and the Beast"
"Bobby's Casserole"
"Bobby vs. Pat Sajak"
"A Certain Face"
"Confounded Computer!"
"A Day at the Races"
"A Day in the Life"
"Dialogue"
"Dispensing the Shopping"
"The Early X-Men in Studio 54"
"Event"
"First, Do No Harm"
"For Remembrance"
"From the Dais with the Closed Coffin"
"The Good of the Many"
"Gunslinger Dreams"
"Heard No More"
"Hiccups"
"Homecoming"
"A Homely Touch"
"I Do Not Love Thee, Mr. Twinkie"
"Lamentation"
"Leadership"
"The Lecture"
"Longest Night"
"Love Is Just Another 4-Letter Word"
"Magic Breakfast"
"Making the Call"
"Midnight Twinkie Run"
"Miss April's Stars & Garters"
"The Morning Paper"
"Movies"
"Naomi"
"Neon Hearts"
"The No Story"
"Not a Creature Was Stirring"
"The Oath"
"Personal Delivery"
"Point Blank"
"The Power-Whup Girls"
"The Price of Coffee"
"Pygmalion's Silence"
"Rumble in Kitchen Stadium"
"The Shadow Inside"
"The Shi'ar Coffee Story"
"Shoot Me"
"Waiting"
"A Friend, Sleeping"
"A Small Addiction"
"Some Assembly Required"
"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Someone Blue"
"Start Spreading the News"
"Such Sweet Sorrow"
"Tale of the Last Twinkie"
"Never Mess with a Furry Blue Genius"
"The TD2001"
"Tear Sheets"
"A Test of Power"
"Tripping into the Light Fantastic"
"Twenty First Century Guy"
"When in Rome"
"When Tomorrow Comes"
"Written from Purgatory"
"The Wyoming Pie"
"X-Men #75"
"Yummy Yellow White Surprise"
"Zero Degree Celsius"

Disclaimer: Marvel's characters do not belong to me, much as I wish they did. This story be harmless fluff, and so say I, ar, ar...

by Dyce

Hank folded his hands behind him, assuming his sternest expression. "Robert, I am grievously disappointed. Grievously." He shook his head sadly. "I'm the first to advocate a little merriment, the odd small joke to brighten the day ... but this?"

"It was funny!"

Hank managed to smother a small chuckle. "Indeed, there were humorous aspects. But what you must realize is that it was also embarrassing, and yes, dangerous. So many things could have gone wrong!"

"But-"

"Consider the unpredictable nature of our lives, Robert. What starts out as a simple prank could have dire consequences. Take today as an example-"

"Okay, okay..."

Hank continued, ignoring the interruption. "Today, a seemingly harmless prank could have turned into a disaster. Oh, you say, but there's no possible way that itching powder could be dangerous-"

"You could get a rash..."

"Well, yes, there is that. But not SERIOUS danger." Hank waved an admonitory finger. "But today we were in a battle. And while it is amusing for Cyclops to have his briefs anointed with sweat-activated itching-powder ... which was very ingenious by the way..."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Anyway, while it IS amusing, mid-battle with the Villain Of The Month is perhaps not the best time for it to take effect."

The object of his lecture hung his head guiltily. "I know."

"He could have been stepped on. The Juggernaut is very heavy, you know."

"Uh-huh."

"It's a good thing for us he thought it was funny."

"I'm sorry."

Hank relaxed a little. "I know you are. And as long as you promise not to do it again, we'll say no more about it, all right?"

Robbie nodded solemnly. "Yes, Daddy."

Hank picked his five-year-old son up, and sighed. "And next time Uncle Bobby suggests something ... let HIM do it. Please. For Daddy's poor old heart."

End