"The unforgiving mind lives in a prison, my friend." Charles keeps his eyes on Erik as he pushes a pawn two spaces forward.
This would be their last chess game; both sides know that tomorrow everything would change. Shaw would be dead and somewhere in the back of their minds, both Charles and Erik know that something far worse will happen. The metal-bender sighs and sits forward in his seat, moving his knight forward.
"I've been living in a prison for too long, Charles."
The telepath takes a large gulp of his scotch, "Then forgive Shaw."
"You and I both know that won't change anything." Charles opens his mouth to protest but Erik holds up a long finger to stop him, "We can sit here and play chess together for years and try to get the other to see their side…but we both know that neither of us will budge."
They smile at each other for a moment and Charles moves another pawn, "What happens after you kill Shaw?"
"I don't know." Erik shrugs and takes his opponent's pawn.
"You can stay here," Charles' words are almost timid and Erik's eyes become concerned for his friend. "This place will always be your home, my friend."
"I know that."
Once again the two fall silent and continue their game.
It's a week later when Charles returns to the mansion. He's sporting a wheelchair and is depressed that, not only will he never walk again, but he has lost his sister and his best friend. Charles knows that they will see each other soon and Erik will see the metal wheelchair that Charles lives in, Erik will see that through everything that happened in Cuba, Charles still trusts him…he forgives him for everything.
It's a month after his return home that Charles decides to erase Moria's memory. He doesn't want her to tell the CIA that Erik is against them now; he doesn't want anyone to know. So, when she kisses him in the cold just outside of the mansion, Charles removes every memory of Cuba from her mind and he relives the horrific moments before Erik and Raven left home through her eyes. His eyes well up for a moment before he blinks and has Alec and Sean take her somewhere safe where the CIA can find her.
A year passed before Charles could force himself back into his bedroom where he and Erik spent their last peaceful moments together. Their last chess fame sits unfinished and Charles sees that he could have taken Erik's king in two moves. He knows that he should have put the game away; thrown away the photograph that shows them all together. But, for some reason Charles can't make himself do those things. This place will always be home to Erik and Raven, and Charles will always be there to welcome them with open arms.