![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
FIC: An Earlier Heaven - Charles/Erik, XMFC - (4/??)
Title: An Earlier Heaven (4/??)
Author: Regann
Pairing: Charles/Erik (XMFC)
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~5,000 for the chapter (total: 40,000+)
Warnings: mpreg
Disclaimer: I don't own anything; I just play with them.
Notes: None.
Summary: In the wake of Cuba, Charles and his students are ready to pick up the pieces and work toward achieving Charles's dream of a safe haven for young mutants. Those plans, however, take a surprising turn thanks to a very unexpected complication. As he slowly builds a future for his students and for his child, Charles struggles with the loss of Erik and the secrets he's willing to keep to protect his family, but those strides are shattered when Erik makes a startling reappearance into his life. [mpreg, kidfic, ensemble]
Previous Parts available at LJ, DW and AO3.
An Earlier Heaven (Part 4)
Future sessions with Cerebro proved less dramatic than that first one, but no less productive; soon they had a list of potential young mutants who might've been best served by a place with Charles and the others at the new Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
For all of their enthusiasm, Charles knew that it would be a long, slow process. He and Erik had visited with dozens of mutants on their recruitment, only to return with a handful of candidates. Finding the children who needed them most would be even more difficult, especially given Jean's care and Charles's accessibility issues. Charles knew he could've sent the boys out on their own, but he wasn't willing to delegate that process, even if he'd thought them ready for the responsibility. Recruitment was one area perfectly suited for a telepath.
Darwin quickly became his usual recruitment partner. His calm demeanor was preferred to Sean's more excitable personality, and Alex still struggled occasionally with control, even if only in his own mind. Charles was sometimes disturbed by the attitude Darwin's presence called forth from some of the more bigoted people they encountered, but Darwin took it in stride. Whenever he met someone who wanted to mistreat Darwin solely on the basis of his skin color, though, Charles couldn't help but remember that there was more truth in Erik's views of humanity than he ever wanted to admit.
It took several months, but slowly they gathered a small group of students: a young girl of African origin, a pair of siblings originally from Russia, a jovial young man whose parents needed little encouragement to trust their son to a virtual stranger. The routines at the manor changed again with the addition of actual students, but everyone seemed to enjoy the new roles they inherited. Hank had less time by himself in his lab because he happily taught sciences and mathematics, while Alex took on training and physical education, and Charles took up the rest, giving lessons in the literature and the humanities. Sean, coming from a large family full of young nieces, nephews and cousins, had a deft hand with the youngest among their number. When he was wasn't watching Jean, he could often be found with Ororo or Ilyana, helping them with their assignments or entertaining them with one of the many games he'd once played with his siblings.
Despite the satisfaction he got from watching his dream of a school come together, it could not compare to the joy Charles had from watching Jean as the months went by. It had surprised him at her birth how all-consuming his love for her had been at the moment she took her first breath, but that love only continued to grow. He'd had no experience with children of any age before she'd come along, but he'd been particularly concerned about how he'd cope with an infant, a small being that was entirely dependent on him for all its needs. Even though he quickly learned how to care for her, he already had nightmares that he'd only come to fail in the future, the same way he had Raven. Sometimes that concern was enough to keep him awake at night, as irrational as it was.
No one could've loved baby Jean more than Charles, but her "uncles" came close. It was as if all the nebulous fascination they'd had with the idea of her before her birth was now focused in their adoration of her. Darwin also found himself part of her fan club, a fact that he noted with amusement. It left Charles with the conclusion that his daughter was going to be utterly spoiled, if she wasn't already.
As the months passed, it became clear that her eyes would remain blue, something close to the bright color of Charles's and that her hair would retain its striking red hue. This delighted Sean to no end, even as it confused Alex.
"Was your mom red-headed or something?" he asked Charles one day, looking down at the top of Jean's head like her hair color was one of the greatest mysteries in the universe.
"No," Charles told him. "Maybe one of my grandparents? I really don't remember. I do freckle quite violently, though, if that's any consolation."
"Well, Raven's hair is red," Sean offered from where he was working on some kind of paper craft for the girls.
Charles refrained from rolling his eyes, although Hank didn't. "They're not related by blood," Hank reminded him. "You do know that's not how genetics works, right?"
"I'm glad to give you a crash course, if you want," Charles added.
Sean made a face and went back to cutting up pieces of construction paper. "Thanks but no thanks, Professor."
"There's always the other side of the family to consider," Darwin said, smiling as he took Jean from Alex. "I'm going to bet you don't know much about that cat's history."
Charles could see Erik's memory of his mother in his mind, dreamy and soft with the love he'd had for her. "Not much," he admitted.
He was glad to see that Alex didn't flinch or scowl as the oblique reference to Erik or the obvious one to Raven, and he considered it a minor victory. It helped, Charles surmised, that the Brotherhood's activities had been clandestine enough that they hadn't made any major news wires. Charles didn't fool himself into thinking they weren't active; that wasn't Erik's style. But whatever they were doing, it was off the radar enough that Charles hadn't gotten any wind of it, and neither had any of the others. It made it easier for all of them to forget, even if it was only for the time being, that one day they might be facing their friends as they'd once faced Shaw.
The first anniversary of their mission to Cuba wasn't spoken of among them in the days before it arrived, but they knew it was coming. Charles planned to observe the day by ignoring it, but that became impossible when he woke up to a slicing sorrow imbedding itself in his mind from three different directions. It seemed so strong that even Jean was fussy from it, something that made Charles wonder if not for the first time if his daughter had some kind of telepathic ability or if it was just a consequence of closely he used his own powers to monitor her. He knew Alex had started a betting pool among the four of them on whether she would manifest an ability and what it would be, even though Charles had cautioned them it could be upwards of 15 years before they got their answer.
Charles easily followed the press of their emotions until he found Alex, Sean, and Hank gathered in the sitting room they jokingly called the teacher's lounge, looking solemn and dejected and awash with memory. He could tell they'd been up most of the night, and three pairs of tired eyes looked up when he cleared his throat and entered the room.
He could tell they all expected some kind of reprimand, despite the fact that Charles understood the reasons for their desolation better than anyone. Instead of saying anything, Charles crossed over to the rarely-touched liquor cabinet and pulled out the scotch and five glasses which he balanced on his lap as he hauled it over to the three young men.
Where is everyone, Charles? Darwin projected in genuine confusion from where he stood in the conspicuously empty kitchen.
It looks like we both missed our invitations to a little anniversary celebration, Charles told him. We're in the lounge.
Charles still didn't say anything as he set the glasses on the low table in front of the sofa and matching chairs. Hank was in one of them, looking hunched and miserable, while Sean huddled in the other, looking more dour than he ever had. Alex was slouched on the sofa, the most forceful mix of anger and sadness of them all.
Charles calmly poured scotch into four of the glasses, then picked one up. "Well," he said, when they didn't join in. "Come on."
They shared a nervous look among them but did as he said. "Bottoms up," he ordered, downing his in one smooth gulp, practiced from years spent in pubs before his life had changed so dramatically a year ago to the day. They followed suit, still looking nervous.
He sat his glass on the table, sending out his understanding and sympathy. "I'll cancel classes for the day," he told them quietly. "Take your time, do whatever it is you need to do."
Hank's expression brightened a little. "Thanks, Charles."
He patted what he could reach of him, which was a knee. "I don't know why you insist on trying to hide things from me, any of you," he told them. "Or why you thought I wouldn't understand that you wanted this day for...remembrance."
"We didn't want to bring up bad memories for you," Sean explained. "In case you didn't remember."
"Sean," Charles reminded him. "I remember everything."
The sound of Darwin clearing his throat made them all look up. "Is this a private party," he asked with a sad smile, "Or is anyone invited?"
Alex returned his smile as he gestured for him to come in. "Get over here," he told him. Once Darwin was within arm's length, Alex reached out and pulled him down to sit on the sofa beside him. Charles left them there, speaking quietly to each other, heads bent together.
Charles marked the occasion with a day spent with Jean, Ororo and Ilyana, which he found to be most therapeutic thing he could imagine for dealing with the shadows of a past marked with such disappointment. His girls were a symbol of the future, one he wanted to see filled with as much goodness and light as possible.
Despite the odd rough day like that one, the denizens of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters flourished, both students and faculty. Every time Charles thought he couldn't be prouder of his pupils-turned-teachers, he was proved wrong. It was amazing how much they'd matured and grown into themselves from the young men he and Erik had dragged to the CIA to be part of the reckless and, frankly, dangerous mission against Shaw. But all of them -- Hank, Alex, Darwin and Sean -- had surpassed Charles's expectations long ago.
Before Charles knew it, another New Year was upon them, another winter almost behind them. Everything was going so well that Charles should've expected the spanner in the works long before it came but he was, to a fault, an optimist, no matter how many times the universe wanted to punish him for it.
It was late but Alfred Hitchcock was a favorite in the household, which meant the four boys were gathered around the television while Charles worked at his desk. The children were in bed for the night, and the house was quiet except for the atmospheric music from the television. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the evening, until Charles felt the vague awareness of unexpected minds on the peripheral of his mental reach. It took a minute before the minds came into focus but when they did, Charles dropped his pen with a gasp that drew the room's attention to him.
"Charles?" Darwin asked, frowning.
"What is it?" Alex said, almost at the same time.
"We have company and not the good kind," he informed them. Hank and Alex surged to their feet. "It's Raven and Angel," he continued. "And -- Erik. I can feel the blankness of his helmet."
"What do they want?" Sean asked.
"It looks like we're about to find out," Charles said. "Alex, Hank, Sean -- outside, with me. Darwin, I want you to stay inside in case we have to evacuate the children quickly. We'll stay in contact here." He pointed to his head. "On my mark, don't wait -- get them all out of here, Jean included."
Darwin nodded. "I'll wait in the nursery," he said, before he disappeared into the hall.
Charles exchanged a grim look with Hank before he focused on Alex. "No one does anything without word from me, you understand?" he told them. "Unless I am incapacitated, you are to wait for my instructions."
Alex reluctantly nodded, knowing the warning for meant for him.
"Then let's go."
By the time the four of them were ranged out in front of the manor, the approaching mutants were still a half a mile from the driveway that led to the house. Charles lifted a finger to his temple and reached out to the most familiar of the unshielded minds.
Raven, he said, trying not to let his emotions overcome him at speaking to his sister for the first time in over a year. What are you and Erik doing here?
Charles! she answered in his mind. We're not looking for trouble.
That wasn't my question,, he reminded her. What are you doing here? It's out of courtesy that I ask, you know. I could just pull it from your mind.
You wouldn't, she sent back. Not to me.
I don't want to, but I have people here who are depending on me to protect them. I need to know what you want.
I promise it's nothing bad, she said. Please, just let us explain in person.
Very well, he agreed with a sigh, then pulled away from the connection with her. To the three who stood with him, he said. "Raven swears that they mean us no harm, but that they'd rather explain their appearance in person."
"Why should we believe them?" Alex demanded, fists clenched.
"Because they haven't done anything yet," Charles said. "We'll wait for them here. If they're hostile, we'll deal with it then. But it doesn't seem very strategic to walk up where they'll know I'll be able to sense them so quickly, not when they have a teleporter."
"And Raven and Angel aren't the best choices for an attack on us," Hank added.
"Or they're the perfect decoy," Alex muttered but kept his place.
They all watched the horizon until the three figures became visible, a line of movement through the dark. Erik was in the middle, towering over the two women, dressed in the same strange clothes he'd worn during his last visit a year earlier. As always, his telepathic-proof helmet was present. At his left, Angel looked much the same as she had on the beach, as did Raven, though she was naked as well as blue.
"Erik," he said out loud, his voice piercing the eerie silence of the evening. "May I ask to what do I owe this unexpected visit? In the middle of the night, no less."
As they moved closer, Charles could sense Raven's sudden sadness at the sight of him in his wheelchair but he ignored it, as he did Angel's strange pulse of defiance-guilt-anger. He kept his focus on Erik, waiting for an answer.
"Charles," Erik said in return, no hint of emotion in his voice. "I didn't expect the welcoming party."
"You're not welcome," Alex volunteered, the air around him almost crackling with the potential of his power.
Charles spared him a warning in his mind, but kept his eyes on Erik. "What brings you here, Erik?"
Erik smiled, a mocking slide of his mouth. "We've come to ask for -- what do you call it? Oh yes." His eyes caught Charles's. "We've come to ask for sanctuary."
It was the absolute last thing Charles expected him to say.
**
They somehow avoided bloodshed on their way into the manor itself, but it was a very near thing. It was actually chaotic for Charles, trying to deal with so many strong, conflicting emotions being projected by the people who circled around him, and Erik's forceful blankness was another kind of difficulty, an ache his mind wanted to worry.
"I don't think it's too much to ask to know why you've come to me for sanctuary," Charles asked Erik as they all loitered in the mansion's massive foyer. Alex was shouting in his head for him not to trust Erik, but Charles read no dishonesty in either Raven or Angel, so he was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until they proved otherwise.
"Isn't that what you're trying to create here?" Erik asked. "A safe haven for mutants? Don't think me ignorant of what you've been up to, Charles."
"The three of you have all explicitly rejected my kind of safe haven," Charles said bluntly, and he could feel the hurt flowing from Raven. "So I'm curious as to what's made you change your mind."
Erik's face darkened. "It's a temporary request only. Was I wrong to think you'd want to help your own sister when she's in need'?"
"I didn't say I wouldn't help," Charles replied, refusing to flinch in the face of Erik's hard, cold gaze. "I just want to know why."
"Our activities have drawn some unwanted attention," Erik finally explained. "We could not remain in our last location."
"So you came to me, knowing that I run a school and brought danger with you?"
"No, Charles," Erik said, mouth frowning, as if he were disappointed Charles would accuse him of such a thing. "We weren't pursued and we don't need protection. Just a quiet place to stay for a few days until I can successfully contact the rest of our group. They are currently...unavailable, however."
"Do I really have to say that I think this is a terrible idea?" Alex said to Charles, ignoring the three visitors. "It could be a trap and, if it's not, how does he know what his enemies will do?"
"Did anyone ask your opinion?" Erik wanted to know, waving his hand a little as if to dismiss Alex from the conversation.
Alex growled low in his throat and took a step forward, energy gathering unconsciously with his anger.
"Alex, no," Charles said sharply, the voice he used that made the boys snap to do his bidding. Alex froze under his own control, forcing himself to bleed out the building energy. "Calm yourself, please. We'll not be using each other for target practice." Charles shot Erik a warning glance. "That goes doubly for you. You are, under no circumstances, to endanger any of my pupils. If you do, not only will any safe haven you've found here end quickly, I will be forced to intervene. Do you understand?"
Erik held his gaze even as he frowned deeply at Charles. "So, we're to stay then?"
Charles ignored the objections in his head from Alex and Hank. "Yes, you may stay."
He missed the collective reactions from the people around him to his pronouncement because Darwin's voice was in his head, reminding him that he was waiting for instructions. Charles, what's going on down there? Is it safe?
For now, he sent back. Erik, Raven and Angel have asked to stay here for a few days and I have agreed.
Are you sure that's a good idea?
No, I'm not, but so far they haven't done anything to warrant me turning them away., he said. And we've already established that hindsight has taught me nothing.
He heard Darwin's dry laughter in his head. Can I come down? I'd...like to see Angel.
Of course.
When Charles snapped back to his surroundings, Raven and Hank were glaring at each other, while Alex had his eyes honed in on Erik who paid him no attention. Instead, he was watching Charles. "Up to your old tricks, Charles?"
Charles ignored him, instead turning to Sean. So far, he was the only one who hadn't contemplated murder in the last five minutes, making him the most level-headed person in the mix. "Sean, will you show our guests to their rooms? You can put Erik and Raven in their old rooms..." -- which would keep them in Charles's wing, away from everyone else -- "...and Angel in the empty room near yours?"
"My room's still...my room?" Raven asked, the first thing she'd said since they entered the house. Her great yellow eyes were fixed on Charles.
"Yes, of course," Charles said.
She gave him a brief, shy smile, so painfully reminiscent of the one she'd given him when he'd found her in the kitchen all those years ago. He started to return it when the uneasy silence was broken by the piercing wail of screaming infant.
It would've been amusing under some other circumstances to watch as everyone's head swung in the direction of the main staircase as the sound grew closer, confusion on some faces, apprehension on others, but not when it was Jean he could hear crying as if something had broken her tiny heart. The fact that it was so uncharacteristic of her only worried Charles more.
Darwin, when he finally appeared on the stairs, shot Charles an apologetic look, and then winced when the three gasps of shock at the sight of him was loud enough to be heard over Jean's wailing.
"I'm sorry, Charles," Darwin said, holding the child close even as she continued to cry. "I was going to leave her in the nursery but she's so upset, I..."
"It's fine, Darwin," Charles told him, worried eyes fixed on his daughter. "Bring her here."
As soon as she was within range, Jean reached eagerly for Charles, almost tumbling into his arms thanks to the height difference between Darwin on his feet and Charles in his wheelchair. But he caught her easily and tucked her against his body, her little head on his shoulder as he tried to console her.
"Darwin?" It was Angel who whispered it, face pale with shock.
Darwin nodded in her direction, not unkindly but with a coolness that was unmistakable "Angel."
Raven was torn between what she wanted to address first, the baby or Darwin, so it was Erik who spoke next. "I have to admit I didn't expect to see you again," he said to Darwin. "It's good to see you, though."
"Thanks, Erik," he replied, similarly polite but distant.
"I'm sure you've realized you missed a great deal," Erik continued.
"Charles caught me up," Darwin assured him.
"I'd be glad to help fill in the gaps."
"Thanks," Darwin said, crossing his arms. "But no thanks."
Jean's sobs had finally quieted to sniffles as Charles gently rocked her in his arms, which meant he was free to say, "Honestly, Erik. Trying to recruit him away when I'm right here? Surely, you could've at least waited until I was out of earshot."
"Nothing said anywhere here is out of your earshot." Then he nodded toward Jean, who had settled into shivery little hiccups. "What about you? Has she even manifested yet?"
"Actually, she hasn't," Charles answered.
"So you're robbing the cradle on a long shot?" Erik shook his head. "Smacks of desperation, Charles. Don't you think a child that young should be with her family?"
"She's with her family." Hank looked fierce as he met Erik's disbelieving gaze. "With us."
"Really?" A corner of Erik's mouth tugged upward like he wanted to smile as he let his eyes move from Hank to Alex to Sean. The look was almost mischievous under the edges of the helmet, reminding Charles of all the moments of laughter they'd shared when they'd first brought everyone to the manor to train. "How's that exactly?"
"Her father's here," Sean said, eyes narrowed at Erik from where he stood at Charles's right. "Is that good enough for you?"
That look of humor on Erik's face only grew, another painful reminder of better times. Again, he let his eyes drift over the boys, one after the other. "Which of you deserve my congratulations?"
It took Alex, Hank and Sean a moment to realize what Erik's almost-teasing comment was implying and, when they did, the identical looks of horror on their faces would've been amusing in another setting. But here, Charles simply knew it was time for him to speak up. "Me," he said, ignoring how the looks of horror on the boys' faces were now directed at him. He kept his placid gaze focused on Erik. "She's mine."
His confirmation was first thing of the evening that left Erik well and truly shocked, something Charles could pick up without his telepathy. Erik's pale eyes widened and his eyebrows rose behind the contours of the mask.
Charles could feel Sean's internal wince. I'm sorry, Prof, I didn't think.
It's fine, Sean, he promised. I'm not ashamed of her and we couldn't keep her hidden forever.
Raven's initial reaction was a complicated mess of delight and sadness, too entwined even for Charles to untangle properly. She didn't speak, just letting her eyes roam over Jean's tiny form, her wistfulness almost tangible between them.
Erik was staring hard at Jean where she huddled against Charles when he finally spoke again. "She's...yours?"
Despite all the reasons he had for the obfuscation he was able to weave, Charles still felt something inside him break at having to do it. He tightened his arms around his daughter's small body as he answered. "Yes."
And then that question, the one he was always expecting. "And her mother?"
This time, no one behind him made a sound. "I'm all she has," Charles said. "Her other parent is in no position to be part of her life."
"How old is she?" Erik asked, his voice so very soft. It was a dangerous sound, and Charles knew his answer was going to be similarly dangerous.
"She's almost a year," he said. "Her birthday is in July."
Erik's expression, even from behind the helmet, was ugly, twisted into something hateful and accusatory, but Charles didn't let himself react. "Fascinating."
Charles kept his expression serene using all of his skill to do so but he knew exactly what he'd just done. "As I was saying," he continued, as if the last five minutes hadn't happened. "Sean, please show our guests to their rooms. Alex? I'll need you to come with me."
Alex looked like he wanted to protest but he stepped up to stand in Sean's place as Sean moved forward, hesitant but game as he said, "Okay, so I guess you guys should follow me? Although I guess you know where you're going without me but, you'll probably need some clean sheets, and I know where those are, so..."
Right before he disappeared up the stairs, Erik shot one more withering glance in Charles's direction. As soon as he was out of sight, Charles let himself hunch over with a sigh.
He felt a strong squeeze on his shoulder and looked up to see Hank standing there. "I know this is going to be difficult," Charles told his remaining pupils. "But I couldn't turn them away, not if they really need our help."
"I know," Hank said. "You wouldn't be you if you could."
He gave them all the best reassuring smile he could muster. "I suggest we all get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is bound to be interesting. Classes are on hold for the time being, but let's keep the children busy and minimize their interaction with our guests."
"Even Raven?" Hank asked.
"Even Raven," he confirmed. "Good night, everyone." He glanced over his shoulder at Alex, then looked down at the back of his wheelchair. "If you don't mind, Alex? I have my hands full at the moment."
"You've got that right," Alex said as he started to push the chair down the hallway.
When they reached Charles's bedroom door, he motioned for Alex to lean down. "I need you to get Jean's spare crib and set it up in my room," he explained. "I want to keep her close while our guests are here."
"Sure thing."
Charles watched as Alex quickly set the crib up in the corner of Charles's room, dashing across the hall to the nursery to grab the appropriate bedding. When he was finished, he gently stroked a hand over the baby's hair where she lay sleeping in Charles's arms. "I wonder what had her so wound up?" Alex asked. "She's not usually a crier."
"I don't know," Charles admitted. "Maybe she could sense the tension in the air."
"Budding telepath?" Alex teased.
"I don't think you needed to have telepathy to have felt it," Charles told him.
"No," he agreed. He watched Charles place Jean in the crib, pulling the blanket up over her legs. "Erik seemed really mad about Jean."
"He was furious," Charles said with a sigh. "The only way for me to have a child that's Jean's age -- other than the truth, that is -- if I were sleeping with a woman around the exact same time we were..."
"So he thinks you two-timed him," Alex finished. "Even if you did, he crippled you and left you on an island in the middle of nowhere. Doesn't that balance out in his head?"
Charles laughed, but it was humorless. "Ah, no," he said. "It doesn't work that way with Erik. No, he'll see it as me betraying him and react accordingly. I think I burnt the last bridge between us tonight."
"I don't think it matters." Alex's voice was quiet and he was looking down at Jean. "I don't think he would've ever used it, even if you hadn't."
"No." Charles reached out a finger to brush it against Jean's cheek. "I don't think he would've either."
Alex gave him a pat on the arm and then headed for the door. "I think I'm going to need all the sleep I can get," he said. "Because the next three days are going to suck."
Recalling the murderous expression on Erik's face, Charles couldn't have agreed more.
**
End of Part 4
Author: Regann
Pairing: Charles/Erik (XMFC)
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~5,000 for the chapter (total: 40,000+)
Warnings: mpreg
Disclaimer: I don't own anything; I just play with them.
Notes: None.
Summary: In the wake of Cuba, Charles and his students are ready to pick up the pieces and work toward achieving Charles's dream of a safe haven for young mutants. Those plans, however, take a surprising turn thanks to a very unexpected complication. As he slowly builds a future for his students and for his child, Charles struggles with the loss of Erik and the secrets he's willing to keep to protect his family, but those strides are shattered when Erik makes a startling reappearance into his life. [mpreg, kidfic, ensemble]
Previous Parts available at LJ, DW and AO3.
An Earlier Heaven (Part 4)
Future sessions with Cerebro proved less dramatic than that first one, but no less productive; soon they had a list of potential young mutants who might've been best served by a place with Charles and the others at the new Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
For all of their enthusiasm, Charles knew that it would be a long, slow process. He and Erik had visited with dozens of mutants on their recruitment, only to return with a handful of candidates. Finding the children who needed them most would be even more difficult, especially given Jean's care and Charles's accessibility issues. Charles knew he could've sent the boys out on their own, but he wasn't willing to delegate that process, even if he'd thought them ready for the responsibility. Recruitment was one area perfectly suited for a telepath.
Darwin quickly became his usual recruitment partner. His calm demeanor was preferred to Sean's more excitable personality, and Alex still struggled occasionally with control, even if only in his own mind. Charles was sometimes disturbed by the attitude Darwin's presence called forth from some of the more bigoted people they encountered, but Darwin took it in stride. Whenever he met someone who wanted to mistreat Darwin solely on the basis of his skin color, though, Charles couldn't help but remember that there was more truth in Erik's views of humanity than he ever wanted to admit.
It took several months, but slowly they gathered a small group of students: a young girl of African origin, a pair of siblings originally from Russia, a jovial young man whose parents needed little encouragement to trust their son to a virtual stranger. The routines at the manor changed again with the addition of actual students, but everyone seemed to enjoy the new roles they inherited. Hank had less time by himself in his lab because he happily taught sciences and mathematics, while Alex took on training and physical education, and Charles took up the rest, giving lessons in the literature and the humanities. Sean, coming from a large family full of young nieces, nephews and cousins, had a deft hand with the youngest among their number. When he was wasn't watching Jean, he could often be found with Ororo or Ilyana, helping them with their assignments or entertaining them with one of the many games he'd once played with his siblings.
Despite the satisfaction he got from watching his dream of a school come together, it could not compare to the joy Charles had from watching Jean as the months went by. It had surprised him at her birth how all-consuming his love for her had been at the moment she took her first breath, but that love only continued to grow. He'd had no experience with children of any age before she'd come along, but he'd been particularly concerned about how he'd cope with an infant, a small being that was entirely dependent on him for all its needs. Even though he quickly learned how to care for her, he already had nightmares that he'd only come to fail in the future, the same way he had Raven. Sometimes that concern was enough to keep him awake at night, as irrational as it was.
No one could've loved baby Jean more than Charles, but her "uncles" came close. It was as if all the nebulous fascination they'd had with the idea of her before her birth was now focused in their adoration of her. Darwin also found himself part of her fan club, a fact that he noted with amusement. It left Charles with the conclusion that his daughter was going to be utterly spoiled, if she wasn't already.
As the months passed, it became clear that her eyes would remain blue, something close to the bright color of Charles's and that her hair would retain its striking red hue. This delighted Sean to no end, even as it confused Alex.
"Was your mom red-headed or something?" he asked Charles one day, looking down at the top of Jean's head like her hair color was one of the greatest mysteries in the universe.
"No," Charles told him. "Maybe one of my grandparents? I really don't remember. I do freckle quite violently, though, if that's any consolation."
"Well, Raven's hair is red," Sean offered from where he was working on some kind of paper craft for the girls.
Charles refrained from rolling his eyes, although Hank didn't. "They're not related by blood," Hank reminded him. "You do know that's not how genetics works, right?"
"I'm glad to give you a crash course, if you want," Charles added.
Sean made a face and went back to cutting up pieces of construction paper. "Thanks but no thanks, Professor."
"There's always the other side of the family to consider," Darwin said, smiling as he took Jean from Alex. "I'm going to bet you don't know much about that cat's history."
Charles could see Erik's memory of his mother in his mind, dreamy and soft with the love he'd had for her. "Not much," he admitted.
He was glad to see that Alex didn't flinch or scowl as the oblique reference to Erik or the obvious one to Raven, and he considered it a minor victory. It helped, Charles surmised, that the Brotherhood's activities had been clandestine enough that they hadn't made any major news wires. Charles didn't fool himself into thinking they weren't active; that wasn't Erik's style. But whatever they were doing, it was off the radar enough that Charles hadn't gotten any wind of it, and neither had any of the others. It made it easier for all of them to forget, even if it was only for the time being, that one day they might be facing their friends as they'd once faced Shaw.
The first anniversary of their mission to Cuba wasn't spoken of among them in the days before it arrived, but they knew it was coming. Charles planned to observe the day by ignoring it, but that became impossible when he woke up to a slicing sorrow imbedding itself in his mind from three different directions. It seemed so strong that even Jean was fussy from it, something that made Charles wonder if not for the first time if his daughter had some kind of telepathic ability or if it was just a consequence of closely he used his own powers to monitor her. He knew Alex had started a betting pool among the four of them on whether she would manifest an ability and what it would be, even though Charles had cautioned them it could be upwards of 15 years before they got their answer.
Charles easily followed the press of their emotions until he found Alex, Sean, and Hank gathered in the sitting room they jokingly called the teacher's lounge, looking solemn and dejected and awash with memory. He could tell they'd been up most of the night, and three pairs of tired eyes looked up when he cleared his throat and entered the room.
He could tell they all expected some kind of reprimand, despite the fact that Charles understood the reasons for their desolation better than anyone. Instead of saying anything, Charles crossed over to the rarely-touched liquor cabinet and pulled out the scotch and five glasses which he balanced on his lap as he hauled it over to the three young men.
Where is everyone, Charles? Darwin projected in genuine confusion from where he stood in the conspicuously empty kitchen.
It looks like we both missed our invitations to a little anniversary celebration, Charles told him. We're in the lounge.
Charles still didn't say anything as he set the glasses on the low table in front of the sofa and matching chairs. Hank was in one of them, looking hunched and miserable, while Sean huddled in the other, looking more dour than he ever had. Alex was slouched on the sofa, the most forceful mix of anger and sadness of them all.
Charles calmly poured scotch into four of the glasses, then picked one up. "Well," he said, when they didn't join in. "Come on."
They shared a nervous look among them but did as he said. "Bottoms up," he ordered, downing his in one smooth gulp, practiced from years spent in pubs before his life had changed so dramatically a year ago to the day. They followed suit, still looking nervous.
He sat his glass on the table, sending out his understanding and sympathy. "I'll cancel classes for the day," he told them quietly. "Take your time, do whatever it is you need to do."
Hank's expression brightened a little. "Thanks, Charles."
He patted what he could reach of him, which was a knee. "I don't know why you insist on trying to hide things from me, any of you," he told them. "Or why you thought I wouldn't understand that you wanted this day for...remembrance."
"We didn't want to bring up bad memories for you," Sean explained. "In case you didn't remember."
"Sean," Charles reminded him. "I remember everything."
The sound of Darwin clearing his throat made them all look up. "Is this a private party," he asked with a sad smile, "Or is anyone invited?"
Alex returned his smile as he gestured for him to come in. "Get over here," he told him. Once Darwin was within arm's length, Alex reached out and pulled him down to sit on the sofa beside him. Charles left them there, speaking quietly to each other, heads bent together.
Charles marked the occasion with a day spent with Jean, Ororo and Ilyana, which he found to be most therapeutic thing he could imagine for dealing with the shadows of a past marked with such disappointment. His girls were a symbol of the future, one he wanted to see filled with as much goodness and light as possible.
Despite the odd rough day like that one, the denizens of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters flourished, both students and faculty. Every time Charles thought he couldn't be prouder of his pupils-turned-teachers, he was proved wrong. It was amazing how much they'd matured and grown into themselves from the young men he and Erik had dragged to the CIA to be part of the reckless and, frankly, dangerous mission against Shaw. But all of them -- Hank, Alex, Darwin and Sean -- had surpassed Charles's expectations long ago.
Before Charles knew it, another New Year was upon them, another winter almost behind them. Everything was going so well that Charles should've expected the spanner in the works long before it came but he was, to a fault, an optimist, no matter how many times the universe wanted to punish him for it.
It was late but Alfred Hitchcock was a favorite in the household, which meant the four boys were gathered around the television while Charles worked at his desk. The children were in bed for the night, and the house was quiet except for the atmospheric music from the television. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the evening, until Charles felt the vague awareness of unexpected minds on the peripheral of his mental reach. It took a minute before the minds came into focus but when they did, Charles dropped his pen with a gasp that drew the room's attention to him.
"Charles?" Darwin asked, frowning.
"What is it?" Alex said, almost at the same time.
"We have company and not the good kind," he informed them. Hank and Alex surged to their feet. "It's Raven and Angel," he continued. "And -- Erik. I can feel the blankness of his helmet."
"What do they want?" Sean asked.
"It looks like we're about to find out," Charles said. "Alex, Hank, Sean -- outside, with me. Darwin, I want you to stay inside in case we have to evacuate the children quickly. We'll stay in contact here." He pointed to his head. "On my mark, don't wait -- get them all out of here, Jean included."
Darwin nodded. "I'll wait in the nursery," he said, before he disappeared into the hall.
Charles exchanged a grim look with Hank before he focused on Alex. "No one does anything without word from me, you understand?" he told them. "Unless I am incapacitated, you are to wait for my instructions."
Alex reluctantly nodded, knowing the warning for meant for him.
"Then let's go."
By the time the four of them were ranged out in front of the manor, the approaching mutants were still a half a mile from the driveway that led to the house. Charles lifted a finger to his temple and reached out to the most familiar of the unshielded minds.
Raven, he said, trying not to let his emotions overcome him at speaking to his sister for the first time in over a year. What are you and Erik doing here?
Charles! she answered in his mind. We're not looking for trouble.
That wasn't my question,, he reminded her. What are you doing here? It's out of courtesy that I ask, you know. I could just pull it from your mind.
You wouldn't, she sent back. Not to me.
I don't want to, but I have people here who are depending on me to protect them. I need to know what you want.
I promise it's nothing bad, she said. Please, just let us explain in person.
Very well, he agreed with a sigh, then pulled away from the connection with her. To the three who stood with him, he said. "Raven swears that they mean us no harm, but that they'd rather explain their appearance in person."
"Why should we believe them?" Alex demanded, fists clenched.
"Because they haven't done anything yet," Charles said. "We'll wait for them here. If they're hostile, we'll deal with it then. But it doesn't seem very strategic to walk up where they'll know I'll be able to sense them so quickly, not when they have a teleporter."
"And Raven and Angel aren't the best choices for an attack on us," Hank added.
"Or they're the perfect decoy," Alex muttered but kept his place.
They all watched the horizon until the three figures became visible, a line of movement through the dark. Erik was in the middle, towering over the two women, dressed in the same strange clothes he'd worn during his last visit a year earlier. As always, his telepathic-proof helmet was present. At his left, Angel looked much the same as she had on the beach, as did Raven, though she was naked as well as blue.
"Erik," he said out loud, his voice piercing the eerie silence of the evening. "May I ask to what do I owe this unexpected visit? In the middle of the night, no less."
As they moved closer, Charles could sense Raven's sudden sadness at the sight of him in his wheelchair but he ignored it, as he did Angel's strange pulse of defiance-guilt-anger. He kept his focus on Erik, waiting for an answer.
"Charles," Erik said in return, no hint of emotion in his voice. "I didn't expect the welcoming party."
"You're not welcome," Alex volunteered, the air around him almost crackling with the potential of his power.
Charles spared him a warning in his mind, but kept his eyes on Erik. "What brings you here, Erik?"
Erik smiled, a mocking slide of his mouth. "We've come to ask for -- what do you call it? Oh yes." His eyes caught Charles's. "We've come to ask for sanctuary."
It was the absolute last thing Charles expected him to say.
**
They somehow avoided bloodshed on their way into the manor itself, but it was a very near thing. It was actually chaotic for Charles, trying to deal with so many strong, conflicting emotions being projected by the people who circled around him, and Erik's forceful blankness was another kind of difficulty, an ache his mind wanted to worry.
"I don't think it's too much to ask to know why you've come to me for sanctuary," Charles asked Erik as they all loitered in the mansion's massive foyer. Alex was shouting in his head for him not to trust Erik, but Charles read no dishonesty in either Raven or Angel, so he was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until they proved otherwise.
"Isn't that what you're trying to create here?" Erik asked. "A safe haven for mutants? Don't think me ignorant of what you've been up to, Charles."
"The three of you have all explicitly rejected my kind of safe haven," Charles said bluntly, and he could feel the hurt flowing from Raven. "So I'm curious as to what's made you change your mind."
Erik's face darkened. "It's a temporary request only. Was I wrong to think you'd want to help your own sister when she's in need'?"
"I didn't say I wouldn't help," Charles replied, refusing to flinch in the face of Erik's hard, cold gaze. "I just want to know why."
"Our activities have drawn some unwanted attention," Erik finally explained. "We could not remain in our last location."
"So you came to me, knowing that I run a school and brought danger with you?"
"No, Charles," Erik said, mouth frowning, as if he were disappointed Charles would accuse him of such a thing. "We weren't pursued and we don't need protection. Just a quiet place to stay for a few days until I can successfully contact the rest of our group. They are currently...unavailable, however."
"Do I really have to say that I think this is a terrible idea?" Alex said to Charles, ignoring the three visitors. "It could be a trap and, if it's not, how does he know what his enemies will do?"
"Did anyone ask your opinion?" Erik wanted to know, waving his hand a little as if to dismiss Alex from the conversation.
Alex growled low in his throat and took a step forward, energy gathering unconsciously with his anger.
"Alex, no," Charles said sharply, the voice he used that made the boys snap to do his bidding. Alex froze under his own control, forcing himself to bleed out the building energy. "Calm yourself, please. We'll not be using each other for target practice." Charles shot Erik a warning glance. "That goes doubly for you. You are, under no circumstances, to endanger any of my pupils. If you do, not only will any safe haven you've found here end quickly, I will be forced to intervene. Do you understand?"
Erik held his gaze even as he frowned deeply at Charles. "So, we're to stay then?"
Charles ignored the objections in his head from Alex and Hank. "Yes, you may stay."
He missed the collective reactions from the people around him to his pronouncement because Darwin's voice was in his head, reminding him that he was waiting for instructions. Charles, what's going on down there? Is it safe?
For now, he sent back. Erik, Raven and Angel have asked to stay here for a few days and I have agreed.
Are you sure that's a good idea?
No, I'm not, but so far they haven't done anything to warrant me turning them away., he said. And we've already established that hindsight has taught me nothing.
He heard Darwin's dry laughter in his head. Can I come down? I'd...like to see Angel.
Of course.
When Charles snapped back to his surroundings, Raven and Hank were glaring at each other, while Alex had his eyes honed in on Erik who paid him no attention. Instead, he was watching Charles. "Up to your old tricks, Charles?"
Charles ignored him, instead turning to Sean. So far, he was the only one who hadn't contemplated murder in the last five minutes, making him the most level-headed person in the mix. "Sean, will you show our guests to their rooms? You can put Erik and Raven in their old rooms..." -- which would keep them in Charles's wing, away from everyone else -- "...and Angel in the empty room near yours?"
"My room's still...my room?" Raven asked, the first thing she'd said since they entered the house. Her great yellow eyes were fixed on Charles.
"Yes, of course," Charles said.
She gave him a brief, shy smile, so painfully reminiscent of the one she'd given him when he'd found her in the kitchen all those years ago. He started to return it when the uneasy silence was broken by the piercing wail of screaming infant.
It would've been amusing under some other circumstances to watch as everyone's head swung in the direction of the main staircase as the sound grew closer, confusion on some faces, apprehension on others, but not when it was Jean he could hear crying as if something had broken her tiny heart. The fact that it was so uncharacteristic of her only worried Charles more.
Darwin, when he finally appeared on the stairs, shot Charles an apologetic look, and then winced when the three gasps of shock at the sight of him was loud enough to be heard over Jean's wailing.
"I'm sorry, Charles," Darwin said, holding the child close even as she continued to cry. "I was going to leave her in the nursery but she's so upset, I..."
"It's fine, Darwin," Charles told him, worried eyes fixed on his daughter. "Bring her here."
As soon as she was within range, Jean reached eagerly for Charles, almost tumbling into his arms thanks to the height difference between Darwin on his feet and Charles in his wheelchair. But he caught her easily and tucked her against his body, her little head on his shoulder as he tried to console her.
"Darwin?" It was Angel who whispered it, face pale with shock.
Darwin nodded in her direction, not unkindly but with a coolness that was unmistakable "Angel."
Raven was torn between what she wanted to address first, the baby or Darwin, so it was Erik who spoke next. "I have to admit I didn't expect to see you again," he said to Darwin. "It's good to see you, though."
"Thanks, Erik," he replied, similarly polite but distant.
"I'm sure you've realized you missed a great deal," Erik continued.
"Charles caught me up," Darwin assured him.
"I'd be glad to help fill in the gaps."
"Thanks," Darwin said, crossing his arms. "But no thanks."
Jean's sobs had finally quieted to sniffles as Charles gently rocked her in his arms, which meant he was free to say, "Honestly, Erik. Trying to recruit him away when I'm right here? Surely, you could've at least waited until I was out of earshot."
"Nothing said anywhere here is out of your earshot." Then he nodded toward Jean, who had settled into shivery little hiccups. "What about you? Has she even manifested yet?"
"Actually, she hasn't," Charles answered.
"So you're robbing the cradle on a long shot?" Erik shook his head. "Smacks of desperation, Charles. Don't you think a child that young should be with her family?"
"She's with her family." Hank looked fierce as he met Erik's disbelieving gaze. "With us."
"Really?" A corner of Erik's mouth tugged upward like he wanted to smile as he let his eyes move from Hank to Alex to Sean. The look was almost mischievous under the edges of the helmet, reminding Charles of all the moments of laughter they'd shared when they'd first brought everyone to the manor to train. "How's that exactly?"
"Her father's here," Sean said, eyes narrowed at Erik from where he stood at Charles's right. "Is that good enough for you?"
That look of humor on Erik's face only grew, another painful reminder of better times. Again, he let his eyes drift over the boys, one after the other. "Which of you deserve my congratulations?"
It took Alex, Hank and Sean a moment to realize what Erik's almost-teasing comment was implying and, when they did, the identical looks of horror on their faces would've been amusing in another setting. But here, Charles simply knew it was time for him to speak up. "Me," he said, ignoring how the looks of horror on the boys' faces were now directed at him. He kept his placid gaze focused on Erik. "She's mine."
His confirmation was first thing of the evening that left Erik well and truly shocked, something Charles could pick up without his telepathy. Erik's pale eyes widened and his eyebrows rose behind the contours of the mask.
Charles could feel Sean's internal wince. I'm sorry, Prof, I didn't think.
It's fine, Sean, he promised. I'm not ashamed of her and we couldn't keep her hidden forever.
Raven's initial reaction was a complicated mess of delight and sadness, too entwined even for Charles to untangle properly. She didn't speak, just letting her eyes roam over Jean's tiny form, her wistfulness almost tangible between them.
Erik was staring hard at Jean where she huddled against Charles when he finally spoke again. "She's...yours?"
Despite all the reasons he had for the obfuscation he was able to weave, Charles still felt something inside him break at having to do it. He tightened his arms around his daughter's small body as he answered. "Yes."
And then that question, the one he was always expecting. "And her mother?"
This time, no one behind him made a sound. "I'm all she has," Charles said. "Her other parent is in no position to be part of her life."
"How old is she?" Erik asked, his voice so very soft. It was a dangerous sound, and Charles knew his answer was going to be similarly dangerous.
"She's almost a year," he said. "Her birthday is in July."
Erik's expression, even from behind the helmet, was ugly, twisted into something hateful and accusatory, but Charles didn't let himself react. "Fascinating."
Charles kept his expression serene using all of his skill to do so but he knew exactly what he'd just done. "As I was saying," he continued, as if the last five minutes hadn't happened. "Sean, please show our guests to their rooms. Alex? I'll need you to come with me."
Alex looked like he wanted to protest but he stepped up to stand in Sean's place as Sean moved forward, hesitant but game as he said, "Okay, so I guess you guys should follow me? Although I guess you know where you're going without me but, you'll probably need some clean sheets, and I know where those are, so..."
Right before he disappeared up the stairs, Erik shot one more withering glance in Charles's direction. As soon as he was out of sight, Charles let himself hunch over with a sigh.
He felt a strong squeeze on his shoulder and looked up to see Hank standing there. "I know this is going to be difficult," Charles told his remaining pupils. "But I couldn't turn them away, not if they really need our help."
"I know," Hank said. "You wouldn't be you if you could."
He gave them all the best reassuring smile he could muster. "I suggest we all get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is bound to be interesting. Classes are on hold for the time being, but let's keep the children busy and minimize their interaction with our guests."
"Even Raven?" Hank asked.
"Even Raven," he confirmed. "Good night, everyone." He glanced over his shoulder at Alex, then looked down at the back of his wheelchair. "If you don't mind, Alex? I have my hands full at the moment."
"You've got that right," Alex said as he started to push the chair down the hallway.
When they reached Charles's bedroom door, he motioned for Alex to lean down. "I need you to get Jean's spare crib and set it up in my room," he explained. "I want to keep her close while our guests are here."
"Sure thing."
Charles watched as Alex quickly set the crib up in the corner of Charles's room, dashing across the hall to the nursery to grab the appropriate bedding. When he was finished, he gently stroked a hand over the baby's hair where she lay sleeping in Charles's arms. "I wonder what had her so wound up?" Alex asked. "She's not usually a crier."
"I don't know," Charles admitted. "Maybe she could sense the tension in the air."
"Budding telepath?" Alex teased.
"I don't think you needed to have telepathy to have felt it," Charles told him.
"No," he agreed. He watched Charles place Jean in the crib, pulling the blanket up over her legs. "Erik seemed really mad about Jean."
"He was furious," Charles said with a sigh. "The only way for me to have a child that's Jean's age -- other than the truth, that is -- if I were sleeping with a woman around the exact same time we were..."
"So he thinks you two-timed him," Alex finished. "Even if you did, he crippled you and left you on an island in the middle of nowhere. Doesn't that balance out in his head?"
Charles laughed, but it was humorless. "Ah, no," he said. "It doesn't work that way with Erik. No, he'll see it as me betraying him and react accordingly. I think I burnt the last bridge between us tonight."
"I don't think it matters." Alex's voice was quiet and he was looking down at Jean. "I don't think he would've ever used it, even if you hadn't."
"No." Charles reached out a finger to brush it against Jean's cheek. "I don't think he would've either."
Alex gave him a pat on the arm and then headed for the door. "I think I'm going to need all the sleep I can get," he said. "Because the next three days are going to suck."
Recalling the murderous expression on Erik's face, Charles couldn't have agreed more.
**
End of Part 4