A/N: I warned a couple of you that this story would be coming. (grins sheepishly) 'Couldn't resist.

WARNINGS: SLASH, some quite adult themes, language, violence… Uh, anyone out there…?

DISCLAIMER: If I'd own a thing the movie would've ended VERY differently. (pouts)

Alright, guys… (gulps) This is always a really nerver wrecking part so I'll get to it. Enjoy?

Forever and a Day

Prologue

Since he was a little boy Erik Lensherr swore on revenge. From the day his mother was killed he dreamt of the day when he'd be strong enough to avenge her unjustified death. In his mind that was the end of his agony, even if it meant that he was dead in the end.

If he'd known just who would end up paying the price of his blind rage he might not have been so arrogant in his faith.

As soon as Erik sent the coin towards Sebastian Shaw's forehead a part of him knew that things would never, ever be quite the same again. He couldn't hear the screams inside of his head because of that ridiculous, awful helmet but that didn't stop him from feeling them deep inside of his chest. That's why, although his heart rejoiced, a part of him wanted to cry.

Erik refused to believe that he was making a mistake. Shaw was far too dangerous to be left alive – that monster had destroyed too many lives and wouldn't stop before pulling his last breath. But still…

I'm sorry about this, Charles. For making you a part of this – for hurting you. But he needs to be stopped, do you understand?

The coin was fast on its way. Soon it'd all be over. One way or the other he'd finally gain the peace he'd been so desperate find.

This is the only way. Just let me show you.

And then it really was over. Shaw's eyes were glazed over. The coin fell with a sickening little jingle, stained with red. Charles hadn't let go before it was too late. Erik stood there, staring at his revenge with dazed eyes. Still alive, unlike he'd perhaps dared to hope.

Was it really over? After all these years… He got what he wanted.

Slowly, slowly the tiniest of smiles appeared to Erik's face. For just a fleeting moment.

Yes. It was over, all over. And now… Now he was about to get what he'd wanted since the moment he was saved from the raging depths.

From the moment Erik looked into Charles' eyes as he floated out of the submarine, though, he knew that it wouldn't be quite as easy as his foolish mind had imagined.

He'd crossed a line. Forced Charles into crossing one. The humans were about to cross a line, too. And nothing would ever be the same again. What Erik had envisioned as a fresh start turned into pure chaos. In a flash everything went wrong.

People who were supposed to be allies abandoned them to die.

Missiles approached them, like some sort of a macabre meteor shower.

Charles begged and pleaded, tried to reason with him in a situation where Erik could see absolutely no sense.

All of a sudden Charles was attacking him, when all fighting amongst their own kind should've been over and done with. Trying to take off his helmet. Nothing had ever felt as wrong as his fist meeting the telepath's face. His own damn hand harming the one person he'd never, ever wanted to hurt.

The worst, however, was yet to come. Because it was Moira's turn to make a unforgivable mistake. She pointed a gun, against someone who could make metal respond with nothing more than a flick of his wrists. Erik brushed off the bullets like they'd been dust.

The last fired bullet flew away carelessly, easily. What Erik had failed to take into account was what was happening behind him. He'd failed to notice that he was no longer the only one in the line of open fire.

The first thing he noticed was the look of sheer terror on Moira's face, how the gun slipped from her trembling fingers like it'd burned. Then he heard the soft, sigh like thud. And a scream that chilled his blood. Raven's scream.

"CHARLES!"

From that moment everything seemed to happen in a slowed motion although it couldn't take longer than seconds. Erik spun around, his eyes wide and his heart stilling while blood turned to ice in his veins. What he faced made it extremely difficult to hold back a howl of his own.

It appeared that the bullet had found a unwanted target on its way. Charles lay on the ground, chillingly still and eyes closed. Blood was seeping quickly, staining brown hair and unhealthily pale skin. With Charles lay on his stomach it was impossible to tell if the telepath was even breathing. If…

Erik's feet were much faster than his head. Before he realized that he was moving he'd made his way to Charles. Finally giving in to the desire to fall down he slumped to the sand, his trembling hand searching, hesitating…

There was a breath of warm air from Charles' nose. That was a good sign. Right?

"Charles?" No response. No sign of awareness. Erik swallowed, unable to erase the bitter taste sitting in his mouth. His eyes were stinging and aching to a point where he was sure that he'd go mad. He tossed away the helmet. Still nothing. "Charles, can you hear me? Open your eyes."

Charles didn't even flinch, gave no sign of awareness. There was far too much blood to Erik's liking, no matter how hard he tried to tell himself that headwounds tend to bleed a lot regardless of the severity. He also didn't like the expression of pain on the telepath's face.

Suddenly there was movement everywhere around him. The kids were dashing towards them, frantic looks on their faces. Moira was also sneaking closer, quietly and carefully as a thief. The mere sight of her made Erik see red.

His hand moved easily. There was a flash of dark satisfaction when the tightening around Moira's throat sent her to her knees, choking. "You…", he growled like a deranged wild beast. "You did this."

"No, she didn't." For a moment Erik was, against all reason, sure that it was Charles who spoke. Instead he found Hank's face. Worry and rage flickered in the blue furred mutant's eyes. "Control yourself for just this once, Erik. Let her go. Let her go so we can help Charles."

Hearing the telepath's name seemed to clear Erik's head a little bit. Slowly, reluctantly, his hold on Moira's dog tags loosened, allowing her to breathe properly once more. Their eyes met, full of threat. At the moment only one thing was keeping them from tearing each other to pieces.

Discovering that the most acute danger was over the kids were moving again. The amount of chaos and noise overwhelmed Erik. Their voices and eyes were full of sheer terror. Were those tears filling Raven's wide eyes?

At the moment there was only one person who would've been able to calm them down.

Erik couldn't really focus on anything until he felt movement. Looking down with alarm and perhaps even fool's hope he discovered that Charles wasn't the one who moved. Hank's far from steady yet determined hands were already working cautiously on the telepath's head. Cold spread through Erik's veins when he saw the wound. To him it looked like a gaping hole that was sneering up at him. "Well?" he barked.

The look in Hank's eyes wasn't exactly promising. "Head wounds are tricky, but… I think that it's not as bad as it looks." The scientist swallowed loudly. "We've gotta stop the bleeding, though. Quickly."

Out of nowhere a piece of fabric appeared, pressed tightly against the bleeding spot. Looking up Erik found the absolutely last face he would've wanted to see near the fallen telepath. "We need to get him to a hospital", Moira choked out. Erik was fairly sure that her husky, choked tone had nothing to do with his ealier treatment.

His eyes were steel and venom upon focusing on her once more, the look sweeping at her like a whip. "Are you out of your mind? The government… It was just about to kill us all, and without a doubt they'll try it again as soon as they can. If we'd take him to the hospital they'd find him. Maybe find us all."

Moira's jawline tightened, a dark look appearing into her eyes. "Then what are you proposing?" she inquired gruffly.

Erik's hold on Charles' limp form tightened while his eyes flew towards Azazel, who was observing the whole commotion with a mild degree of curiosity. His eyes narrowed while a sharp piece of metal appeared to the teleporter's throat. "Your leader is dead. Unless you desire to join him get us away from here, now. Try anything and I'll make sure that it's the last thing you do." He was sure that the red skinned mutant had seen enough to take his word seriously.

Azazel shrugged, ignoring the looks of mistrust and alarm from his companions. "Whyever not? Who knows… This could be the beginning of a very interesting companionship."

Erik decided not to dignify the other with a response. Instead he gave coordinates, just far enough from the mansion to make it safe, constantly careful not to let the piece of metal slip too far. The last thing he needed was all of them being abandoned to the cursed beach.

They began to gather together, none of them trusting and few willing but knowing that it was the only choice. On the way up Hank reached out towards Charles. Seeing the daggers Erik glared the blue furred mutant growled with frustration. "I'd be able to carry him more smoothly", the younger mutant tried to reason, his voice an octave too high.

Erik refused to relent. He shook his head, tightening his hold on Charles. There was no way in hell he'd let go at that very moment.

Hank sighed and swallowed, looking so young and terrified that it stung Erik. If he'd had even a single word of comfort… "Fine. Just… Just keep pressure on the wound, okay? Try to keep him steady."

Lifting Charles up wasn't much of a struggle. Doing so while continuing to keep pressure on the wound proved to be much more so. Erik shivered with alarm when all of a sudden a blue hand appeared to help, pressed against the professor's head. Raven's eyes were full of pain and guilt when he met them.

If a flash all the kids were there, gathering around them as though trying to shield their teacher. Or perhaps they were simply seeking comfort from one another. Usually such a close proximity would've bothered Erik but as it was there was only one person he managed to pay attention to.

Exactly five seconds before they were taken away from what'd turned into a nightmare Erik looked at Charles' unconscious, blood stained face. Tears filled his eyes but wouldn't spill. Perhaps he'd done too much crying during his life.

Can you hear me, Charles? At all? Because… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

He closed his eyes and pulled Charles closer, held on with all his might. Just like he did when they crashed, what felt like ages ago. Protecting when it was too late.

I'm sorry.

There was no whisper. No soothing, warm brush of a familiar mind against his. No comfort.

Erik hadn't felt as utterly alone, cold and lost since the moment his mother died.

TBC OR NOT?

A/N: Oh dear… Poor Erik. (And Charles, too, of course.) (winces) And things are bound to get messier from here.

So… How was that in your book, guys? Any good, at all? Or carbage material? PLEASE, let me know! It'd totally make my breezy day brighter.

In any case, thank you so much for reading! Take care!